:-;v 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


«    12.0 


12.2 


-    6" 


1.8 


L25  11114   ii^ 


<^ 


vl 


'<i 


7: 


^ 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notas  tachniques  at  bibiiographiquas 


The  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
tha  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommcg^e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  at'  ou  pallicul^e 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


D 
D 


Cartes  giographiquas  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  an  couleur 


r~~V  Bound  with  other  material/ 
I  ^    Ralii  avec  d'autres  documents 


n 


D 


D 


Tight  binding^may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mais.  lorsqua  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  Mt  filmias. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mantaires.- 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  6ti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaira  qui  sont  paut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  roproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  mAthoda  normala  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdas 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur^as  et/ou  pellicuiies 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  ddcolories,  tacheties  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtactdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  suppi^mentaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~l/ Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I    Pages  detached/ 

V~^  Showthrough/ 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmies  d  nouveau  de  fapon  & 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film^ft  au  taux  da  reduction  tndiqui  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

T 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

A^k 


J, 


i 

itails 
I  du 
odifier 
'  une 
mage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appro^iate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TUNUED").  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6ro8it6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  film^s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
syr^bole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
fiim^s  d  des  taux  de  rdduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  g'an;::  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  I'angle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gt  uche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


irrata 
to 


pelure, 
n  d 


n 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■  /  -* 


f/ 


J,   / 


^ 


BATTLE    OF    LAKE    ERIE. 


DISCOURSE. 


SELIVEBED   BEFOSE   HIE 


EHODE-ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY, 


ON   THE  EVENING  OF 


Hlon^aji,  ilebruarji  16,  1852. 


BY   USHER   PARSONS. 


PUBLISHED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


PROVIDENCE: 

BENJAMIN   T.   ALBRO,   PRINTER. 

1854. 


DISCOURSE. 


The  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society  having  requested  me  to 
prepare  a  discourse  for  this  their  anniversary  public  meeting,  I 
have  chosen  for  my  subject  a  history  of  the  Battle  of  Lake  Erie. 

I  have  made  this  choice,  first,  because  this  battle  is  a  part  of 
Rhode-Island  History,  and  therefore  appropriate  to  the  occasion ; 
secondly,  because  I  could  speak  of  it  from  personal  knowledge  ; 
and  thirdly,  because  a  very  inaccurate  and  perverted  account  of 
it  has  been  written  and  imposed  upon  the  public  by  the  late  J. 
Fenimore  Cooper,  Esquire.  I  am  aware  that  this  gentleman's 
mistakes  and  misrepresentations  should  have  beeji  noticed  and 
corrected  before  his  decease,  and  my  apology  for  the  delay  is 
that  I  nearer  saw  the  pamphlet  containing  them,  nor  knew  of  its 
existence,  Tintil  within  a  few  days  past,  and  after  commencing 
this  discourse. 

My  aim  will  be  to  gave  an  account  of  the  origin  of  the  fleet  or 
squadron  on  the  lake  ;  of  its  conflict  with  the  British  squadron, 
of  the  consequences,  immediate  and  remote,  and  in  conclusion 
to  notice  some  of  Mr.  Cooper's  erroneous  positions  and  false  in- 
ferences. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  1812,  Government  un- 
dertook the  conquest  of  Upper  Canada.  General  Hull  was  at 
the  head  of  an  army  at  Detroit,  and  General  Van  Rensselaer  of 
another  on  the  Niagara  river.  The  former  was  captured,  and 
the  latter  defeated.  At  this  time,  the  British  held  possession  of 
Lake  Erie,  with  five  armed  vessels,  and  had  captured  the  Adams, 
the  only  armed  vessel  we  owned  upon  the  Lake.  Their  ves- 
sels, carrying  sailors  and  Indians,  could  at  any  moment  strike  a 


fatal  blow  upon  any  defenceless  settlement  on  thw  South  side  of 
the  lake,  and  while  the  militia  were  gathering  tio  oppose  them^ 
they  could  pouiKe  upon  another  and  another.  The  surrender  of 
Hull  exposed  the  territory  at  the  head  of  the  lake  to  incursions: 
by  land,  and  an  attempt  to  oppose  them  resulted  in  the  capture 
of  General  Winchester's  army.  These  three  fruitless  and  disas- 
trous expeditions  taught  the  necessity  of  creating  a  fleet  on  Lake 
Erie,  that  should  command  it,  and  co-operate  with  General 
Harrison,  who  then  commanded  the  North  Western  army.  Ac- 
cordingly in  the  winter  of  1812 — 13,  the  keels  of  five  vessels 
were  laid  at  Erie ;  at  the  same  time  four  or  five  merchant- 
schooners,  being  all  thai  were  then  owned  by  us  on  the  lake,  were 
purchased  and  armed  with  two  or  three  guns  each. 

There  are  good  reasons,  I  may  here  remark,  for  considering 
the  operations  on  Lake  Erie  as  a  part  of  Rhode-Island  history. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  there  was  a  flotilla  of  gun- 
boats stationed  at  Newport  for  the  protection,  of  Narragansett 
Bay,  which  was  commanded  by  Oliver  H.  Perry,  a  native  of  this 
State,  then  27  years  of  age.  The  interruption  of  commerce  by 
the  war,  had  thrown  many  captains,  mates  and  seamen  out  of 
employ,  who  entered  the  pulvlic  service  in  thi»  flotilla.  The  ser- 
vice here  being  inactive,  Perry  volunteered  im  the  lakes,  and 
was  ordered  to  superfntend  the  out-fitting  of  the  fl«et  at  Lake 
Erie.  He  took  with  him  many  of  the  officers  and  seamen  from 
Newport,  and  arrived  at  Erie  in  March,  1813.  This]  accounts 
for  there  being  so  many  Rhode-Islanders  in  the  expedition. — 
Four  of  the  nine  commanders,  Perry,  Turner,  Champlin,  and 
Almy  were  from  this  State,  also  a  majority  of  the  sailing  masters 
and  mates,  and  several  other  officers,  with  a  large  number  of 
sailors.  Besides  this,  Commodore  Perry,  Lieutcntant  Turner,, 
late  a  post-captain,  sailing-master  Taylor,  iu)w  a  post-captain  in 
Newport,  superintended  the  rigging  and  equipping  and  ariosdng 
of  the  fleet.  There  has  never  been  an  expedition  set  on  footi  in 
this  country,  where  so  large  a  portion  of  the  officers  hailed  foom 
one  State,  or  accomplished  so  much  work,  as  was  done  by  Rhode 
Islanders  on  Lake  Erie. 

In  May,  1813,  Perry  left  Erie  in  a  four-oaired  boat  for  Buffalo, 
where  he  arrived  in  twenty-four  hours,  tlie  distance  being  100 


itli  side  of 
ose  therriy 
irrender  of 
incursions: 
le  capture 
and  disas- 
et  on  Lake 
h  General 
rmy.  Ac- 
ive  vessels 
merchant-^ 
J  lake,  were 

jonsidering^ 
id  history, 
lla  of  gun- 
arragansett 
ativeofthis 
tnmerce  by 
[jen  out  of 
Theser- 
lakes,  and 
3t  at  Lake 
samen  from 
s  j  accounts 
pedition. — 
mplin,  and 
ing  masters 
number  of 
nt  Turner,^ 
:-captain  in 
tmd  arimng 
t  on  foot  in 
hailed  from 
e  by  Rhode 

for  Buffalo, 
being  lOO 


> 


;i 


miles.  From  thence  he  proceeded  to  Lake  Ontaria,  and  there 
rendered  important  services  to  Commodore  Chauncy  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Fort  George.  On  his  way  there,  he  stopped  at  Black 
Rock,  near  Buffalo,  to  hasten  the  arming  and  outfitting  of  the 
five  merchant  schooners,  and  on  his  way  back  to  Erie  he  took 
with  him  from  Chauncy's  fleet  a  few  men,  and  borrowed  two 
companies  of  infantry  from  the  army,  with  which  he  manned 
the  vessels  and  sailed  to  Erie.  It  was  a  Herculean  labor  to  drag 
these  vessels  by  land  up  the  rapids  at  Black  Rock  into  the  Lake, 
and  required  nearly  a  week  with  two  hundred  men,  who  warped 
them  with  ropes  over  their  shoulders.  Soon  after  getting  safely 
into  the  Lake  off  Buffalo,  we  sailed  for  Erie.  On  the  day  fol- 
lowing, Captain  Perry  was  taken  down  with  a  fever.  On  the 
next  succeeding  day,  a  small  boat  with  two  men  appeared  under 
the  lake-shore,  rowing  toward  our  vessels.  They  brought  us 
intelligence  from  Erie  that  the  enemy  had  just  appeared  there, 
and  was  probably  in  pursuit  of  us.  Perry  immediately  took  the 
deck,  and  gave  orders  to  the  other  vessels  to  prepare  for  action, 
and  to  board  the  enemy  should  he  come  near  us.  Fortunately 
we  were  not  discovered,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  next  day  our 
little  squadron  entered  Erie  in  safety. 

No  one  who  hears  me  can  form  any  idea  of  the  difficulties 
encountered  in  obtaining  cordage,  canvas,  cannon^  powder  and 
balls,  and  all  other  outfits,  which  were  to  be  brought  to  Erie, 
mostly  from  the  seaboard,  a  distance  of  four  or  five  hundred 
miles,  over  bad  roads.  Notwithstanding,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Rhode  Island  officers,  the  work  progressed  rapidV\-  and  suc- 
cessfully. A  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  militia  was  ttii' }d  on  a 
ground  near  the  shore  where  our  fleet  lay  ;  and  whenever  the 
enemy  looked  in  upon  us,  at  the  harbor  of  Erie,  which  they  did 
every  few  days,  this  regiment  of  militia  paraded,  and  made  a 
formidable  appearance  upon  the  high  bank  of  the  lake,  as  a  re- 
pelling force,  but  in  reality,  had  the  enenly  approached  to  de- 
stroy our  fleet  they  could  have  done  little  to  prevent  it.  They 
however  served  as  a  sort  of  scare-crow,  to  frighten  him  away. 

The  enemy,  on  learning  that  a  fleet  was  preparing  to  gain  pos- 
session of  the  lake,  had  early  in  the  spring  laid  the  keel  of  a 
ship  larger  than  had  ever  floated  upon  the  lake,  which  added  to 


6 


their  other  vessels,  made  their  fleet  to  consist  of  the  following 
force :  Detroit,  (new  ship)  nineteen  guns  ;  Uueen  Charlotte,  sev- 
enteen guns  ;  Lady  Prevost,  thirteen  guns ;  Hunter,  ten  guns  ; 
Little  Belt,  three,  and  the  Chippewa,  one ;  total,  sixty-three 
guns.  The  American  force  consisted  of  the  following :  Law- 
rence and  Niagara,  precisely  alike,  twenty  guns  each ;  Ariel, 
four ;  Scorpion,  two  ;  Porcupine,  one  ;  Tigris,  one ;  Caledonia, 
three  ;  Somers,  two  ;  Tripp,  one ;  total,  fifty-four  guns. 

The  Fleet  was  manned  by  sailors  partly  from  Newport,  and 
partly  from  Lake  Ontario.  The  two  larger  vessels,  Lawrence 
and  Niagaia,  were  built  and  rigged  precisely  dike,  and  carried 
132  officers  and  men,  each.  By  the  10th  of  July,  the  guns  were 
mounted  on  board  all  the  vessels,  and  the  men  were  exercised 
at  them,  several  times  a  day. 

On  Sunday,  the  18th  of  July,  two  respectable  missionaries 
who  were  passing  through  Erie,  were  invited  by  the  Commo- 
dore on  board  one  of  the  large  ships,  where  as  many  ofllcers 
and  men  as  could  be  spared  from  all  the  vessels  were  assembled 
to  hear  prayers  that  were  offered  up  for  the  success  of  the  expe- 
dition. I  shall  never  forget  their  fervent  pleadings  in  our  behalf, 
that  we  might  subdue  the  hostile  fleet,  and  thereby  wrest  from 
savage  hands  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife,  that  had  been 
so  cruelly  wielded  against  the  defenceless  settlers  on  the  frontiers; 
and  that  in  the  event  of  a  victory,  mercy  and  kindness  might  be 
shown  to  the  vanquished. 

The  bar  of  Erie  had  thus  far  served  as  a  fortification  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy  from  entering  the  harbor  where  our  fleet  was 
preparing,  but  it  now  presented  a  serious  obstacle  to  our  egress. 
The  two  large  brigs  drew  three  feet  of  water  more  than  there 
-was  on  the  bar.  On  Sunday  evening,  the  1st  August,  the  work 
tegan  of  clearing  the  Lawrence  of  cannon  and  balls,  to  lighten 
her;  and  immenf  3  spows  called  camels  were  placed  under  her 
5ides,  and  being  sunk  to  the  Rater's  edge,  timbers  {were  passed 
through  from  side  to  side  of  the  ship,  the  ends  of  which  were 
blocked  up,  resting  on  these  floating  foundations.  Plugs  were 
now  put  into  the  scows,  andjhe  water  bailed  out,  and  as  they 
rose  they  lifted  the  ship  two  feet,  and  this  not  being  enough,  the 
ballast  and  other  heavy  articles  Avere  taken  out,  till  she  was 


he  following 
harlotte,  sev- 
sr,  ten  guns ; 
1,  sixty-three 
I  wing :  Law- 
each;  Ariel, 
e ;  Caledonia, 
giuis. 

viewport,  and 
Is,  Lawrence 
,  and  carried 
the  guns  were 
ere  exercised 

3  missionaries 
the  Commo- 
many  officers 
ere  assembled 
ss  of  the  expe- 
I  in  our  behalf, 
)y  wrest  from 
tiat  had  been 
n  the  frontiers; 
Iness  might  be 

cation  to  pre- 
our  fleet  was 
to  our  egress, 
rre  than  there 
gust,  the  work 
alls,  to  lighten 
zed  under  her 
s  jwere  passed 
f  which  were 
Plugs  were 
and  as  they 
ng  enough,  the 
t,  till  she  was 


raised  another  foot,  when  she  was  able  to  pass  over  the  bar. — 
The  Niagara  was  served  in  like  manner,  but  the  smaller  vessels 
had  previously  passed  over  without  the  aid  of  camels.  Before 
the  large  vessels  were  fairly  over,  the  enemy  hove  in  sight,  and 
fired  a  few  balls,  which  did  not  reach  us.  The  Pennsylvania 
regiment  paraded,  and  the  small  vessels  that  were  out  returned 
the  enemy's  fire.  Had  they  come  near  enough  to  do  execution 
while  we  were  stuggling  over  the  bar,  they  might  have  destroyed 
our  fleet  with  little  difficulty. 

On  the  6th  of  August  we  sailed,  with  the  fleet  not  more  than 
half-officered  or  manned,  across  the  lake,  wishing  to  encounter 
the  enemy  before  the  large  new  ship  joined  his  squadron  ;  but, 
they  had  sailed  for  Maiden,  and  we  returned  to  Eric  the  next 
day,  where  wo  found  Captain  Elliot,  just  arrived  from  Lake 
Ontario,  with  nearly  100  officers  and  men.  A  new  arrangement 
was  now  made  of  officers  throughout  the  fleet,  and  we  soon 
sailed  up  the  lake  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  anchored  on  the 
15th,  in  Put-in-bay,  in  a  cluster  of  islemds  near  the  head  of  the 
lake.  On  the  17th  we  sailed  to  the  mouth  of  Sandusky  bay, 
and  on  anchoring  fired  three'  guns,  waited  ten  minutes  and  fired 
three  more.  This  was  a  signal  previously  agreed  upon  by  let- 
ters that  passed  between  Perry  and  Harrison.  In  the  evening. 
Colonel  Gaines,  with  a  number  of  officers  and  Indians,  arrived  on 
board,  and  reported  General  Harrison  to  be  twenty-seven  miles 
distant,  with  an  army  of  8000  militia,  regulars  and  Indians. — 
Oiur  boats  were  sent  to  bring  the  General  and  his  suite  on  board, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  19th,  late  in  a  rainy  evening.  The 
General  brought  his  two  aids.  Colonel  McArthiur,  afterwards 
Governor  of  Ohio,  and  Colonel  Cass,  now  Senator  in  Congress, 
with  many  of  his  princip  i'  officers,  two  hundred  soldiers  and 
fifty  Indians,  including  the  chiefs  of  several  nations.  They  re- 
mained on  board  with  us  two  days,  to  settle  the  plans  of  their 
future  operations.  The  General  learned  that  our  crews  were 
weakened  by  sickness,  and  on  returning  to  the  army  sent  us 
some  thirty  or  forty  volunteers  to  serve  with  our  sailors.  Our 
crews  became  still  more  unhealthy,  the  Commodore  and  half  of 
the  officers  were  on  the  sick  list  with  lake-fever.  The  two 
senior  medical  officers  were  confined  to  their  berths,  and  the 


8 

junior  ono  was  so  reduced  by  the  disooso,  that  in  visiting  the 
sick  on  board  the  difTorent  vessels,  he  was  luiablo  to  climb  up 
the  ship's  sides,  and  he  was  hoisted  in  and  out  like  a  barrel  of 
flour  or  a  cask  of  water. 

We  now  looked  into  the  harbor  of  Maiden,  by  way  of  return- 
ing the  civilities  the  enemy  had  shown  us  at  Erie.  This  kind 
of  polite  attention  was  repeated  two  or  three  times,  until  the 
evening  of  the  9th  of  September,  when  we  anchored  in  Put-in- 
bay.  On  the  following  morning  at  sunrise,  there  was  a  cry 
from  the  mast-head,  sail  oh  !  all  hands  sprang  from  their  berths, 
and  ere  we  could  dress  and  reach  the  decks  the  cry  was  repeated 
again  and  again,  until  six  sail  were  thus  announced.  Signal 
was  made  to  the  fleet,  "  Enemy  in  sight !  get  under  way  !"  and 
the  hoarse  voice  and  shrill  pipe  of  the  boatswain  resoimded 
through  all  the  ships,  "  all  hands  up  anchor !" 

The  wind  at  this  time  was  from  the  Southwest,  light  and  baf- 
fling, which  prevented  our  weathering  the  island  in  our  way, 
and  it  continued  so  until  ten  o'clock,  when  it  veered  to  the 
Southeast,  which  enabled  us  to.  clear  the  island,  and  stand  out 
upon  the  lake.  We  now  discovered  the  English  squadron,  five 
or  six  miles  to  the  leeward,  hove  to  in  a  line,  and  equidistant 
about  half  a  cable's  length.  The  vessels  were  freshly  painted, 
and  with  the  morning  sun  shining  upon  their  broadsides,  and 
their  red  ensigns  gently  unfolding  to  the  breeze,  they  made  a 
very  gallant  appearance.  Our  squadron  bore  down  to  engage 
them,  with  the  wind  en  our  larboard  quarter.  They  were  ar- 
ranged with  the  Chippewa,  of  one  long  eighteen  pounder  on  a 
pivot  ahead  ;  the  Detroit  of  nineteen  guns,  bearing  the  broad 
pendant  of  the  Commodore,  next ;  the  Hunter  of  ten  guns,  the 
third  I  the  Queen  Charlotte  of  seventeen  guns,  fourth ;  the 
Lady  Prevost  of  thirteen  guns,  fifth,  and  the  Little  Belt  of  three 
guns,  sixth.  Captain  Perry  immediately  arranged  his  line  of 
battle,  with  his  own  ship  to  fight  the  Detroit,  broad  pendant 
against  broad  pendant,  Commodore  against  Commodore.  Two 
gun-boats,  the  Ariel  and  Scorpion,  ranged  ahead  on  our  larboard 
bow,  a  little  out  of  a  straight  line.  The  Caledonia,  of  three 
long  twenty-four  pounders,  came  next,  after  the  Lawrence,  to 
encounter  the  Hunter ;  the  Niagara  next,  to  fight  the  Q,ueen 


9 


visiting  the 
to  climb  up 
ko  a  burrol  of 

ivay  of  retum- 
0.  This  kind 
nes,  until  the 
)rcd  in  Put-in- 
:«ro  was  a  cry 
n  their  berths, 
y  was  repeated 
iced.  Signal 
ler  way !"  and 
ain  resounded 

it,  light  and  baf- 
i  in  our  way, 
veered  to  the 
and  stand  out 
I  squadron,  five 
ind  equidistant 
freshly  painted, 
)roadsides,  and 
,  they  made  a 
>wn  to  engage 
They  were  ar- 
pounder  on  a 
ring  the  broad 
ften  guns,  the 
is,  fourth;   the 
tie  Belt  of  three 
;ed  his  line  of 
broad  pendant 
modore.     Two 
on  our  larboard 
sdonia,   of  three 
Lawrence,   to 
ight  the  Clueen 


Chnrlotto,  niul  the  Somcrs,  Porciipino,  Tigris  and  Tripp,  to  en- 
counter the  f  iudy  Provost  and  Little  Bolt.  Thus  arranged,  our 
licet  moved  on  to  attack  the  enemy,  distant  at  ten  o'clock  about 
four  or  five  miles.  The  Commodore  next  produced  the  burgee, 
or  fighting  flag,  hitherto  concealed  in  the  ship.  It  was  inscribed 
with  largo  white  letters  uj)on  a  blue  ground,  that  could  bo  read 
throughout  tho  fleet,  "'>on't  give  up  tub  Ship," — the  last 
words  of  the  expiring  Lawrence,  and  now  to  be  hoisted  at  the 
mast-head  of  the  flag-ship  bearing  his  name.  A  spirited  appeal 
was  made  to  tho  crew  assembled  upon  the  quarter-deck,  who 
returned  three  hearty  cheers  that  were  repeated  along  the  whole 
line  of  our  vessels,  and  up  went  the  flag  to  the  top  of  the  fore- 
royal.  The  Commodore  brought  mo  a  package  of  papers, 
having  a  piece  of  load  attached  to  them,  and  gave  orders  in  tho 
event  of  his  falling,  to  throw  tho  papers  overboard  ;  they  were 
instructions  from  Government,  and  letters  from  Mrs.  Perry. — 
The  grog  ration  being  served  out,  drums  and  fifes  stnick  up  the 
thrilling  air,  "all  hands,  all  hands,  all  hands  to  quarters,"  calling 
all  to  their  respective  stations.  Tho  Commodore  was  on  the 
quarter  deck  with  two  young  officers,  Thomas  Breese  and  his 
own  brother,  Alexander  Perry,  whose  duty  it  was  to  run  with 
his  orders  to  every  part  of  the  ship ;  for  in  the  din  and  uproar 
of  battle  no  officer  can  bo  heard  ten  feet  off.  The  hatches  were 
now  closed  excepting  a  small  aperture  ten  inches  square,  through 
which  powder-cartridges  were  to  be  paspod  up  from  the  maga- 
zine by  boys  nimble  of  foot  during  the  battle,  and  through 
which  light  was  admitted  into  the  surgeon's  room,  where  the 
wounded  were  to  be  brought.  The  floor  of  this  apartment  was 
on  a  level  with  the  surface  of  the  water  outside,  and  consequent- 
ly the  wounded  were  as  much  exposed  to  the  enemy's  cannon 
balls  as  if  they  were  on  deck.  Six  men  were  directed  to  bring 
the  wounded  below,  and  to  assist  the  surgeon  in  moving  them. 
Every  preparation  being  made,  and  every  man  at  his  post,  a 
profound  silence  reigned  for  more  than  one  hour, — the  most  try- 
ing part  of  the  whole  scene.  It  was  like  the  stillness  of  the 
atmosphere  that  precedes  the  hurricane.  The  fleet  moved  on 
steadily  till  a  quarter  before  meridian,  when  the  awful  suspense 
was  relieved  by  a  cannon-shot  aimed  at  us  from  the   tlag-ship 


f/ 


10 


Detroit,  one  mile  distant.  It  was  like  an  electric  shock,  and 
was  soon  followed  by  another.  The  two  gun-boats  ahead  of 
us  now  fired  one  or  two  long  guns.  At  this  time  the  Ariel, 
Scorpion,  Lawrence,  Caledonia  and  Niagara  were  all  in  their 
respective  stations  in  the  order  they  are  named,  distant  from  each 
other  about  half  a  cable's  length.  The  other  vessels,  not  sailing 
quite  so  well,  were  a  little  out  of  their  stations  astern.  At  ten 
minutes  before  twelve,  fire  was  opened  from  all  the  long  guns 
of  the  enemy.  At  five  minutes  before  the  meridian,  the  Law- 
rence beginning  to  suffer,  returned  the  fire  from  her  long  bow 
gun,  a  twelve  pounder,  when  the  two  gun  boats  ahead  were  or- 
dered by  trumpet,  to  commence  the  action,  and  the  Caledonia 
and  Niagara  astern,  opened  their  fire  with  their  long  guns.  The 
stermnost  vessels  soon  after  opened  also,  but  at  too  great  a  dis- 
tance to  do  liiuch  injury.  Perry  finding  himself  not  sufficiently 
near  to  do  execution  with  his  carronades,  made  all  sail  again,  and 
ordered  the  word  to  be  passed  by  trumpet  to  the  vessels  astern. 
The  order  was  responded  to  and  transmitted  along  the  line  by 
Captain  Elliot  of  the  Niagara,  whose  vessel  was  stationed  next 
but  one  astern  of  the  Lawrence.  But  the  Niagara  did  not  make 
sail  with  the  Lawrence,  and  accompany  her  down  into  close  ac- 
tion as  ordered,  but  continued  her  long  shot  with  two  bow  guns, 
(having  shifted  the  left  one  over  to  the  starboard  side.)  Perry 
pressed  on,  and  supposing  himself  near  enough,  fired  his  forward 
carronades,  but  finding  they  did  not  tell,  he  pressed  on  still  near- 
er, suffering  terribly,  and  getting  near  enough  for  execution  he 
opened  a  rapid  and  most  destructive  fire  upon  the  Detroit.  The 
Scorpion  and  Ariel  ahead  were  not  deemed  worthy  of  the  ene- 
my's aim,  yet  those  small  vessels  having  heavy  cannon  fought 
nobly  and  with  great  effect.  The  Caledonia  astern  followed 
the  Lawrence  into  close  action  against  her  antagonist  the  Hunt- 
er. But  the  Niagara,  which,  when  ihe  battle  began  was  within 
hail  of  the  Lawrence,  did  not  follow  her  down  toward  the  ene- 
my's line,  so  as  to  encounter  her  antagonist  the  Queen  Charlotte. 
The  Niagara,  I  say,  did  not  make  sail  when  the  Lawrence  did, 
but  hung  back  for  two  hours,  when  she  should  have  followed 
the  example  of  the  Lawrence,  and  grappled  with  the  Q,ueen 
Charlotte  at  the  same  time  that  vessel  did  the   Detroit.      The 


I 
I 


I 


shock,  and 
3  ahead   of 
the  Ariel, 
all  in  their 
It  from  each 
3,  not  sailing 
n.      At  ten 
long   guns 
I,  the  Law- 
r  long  bow 
ead  were  or- 
le   Caledonia 
guns,    The 
3  great  a  dis- 
)t  sufficiently 
;ail  again,  and 
essels  astern, 
the  line  by 
;ationed  next 
did  not  make 
into  close  ac- 
wo  bow  guns, 
side.)     Perry 
id  his  forward 
d  on  still  near- 
execution  he 
Oetroit.     The 
y  of  the  ene- 
annon  fought 
item  followed 
nist  the  Hunt- 
;an  was  within 
ward  the  en3- 
leen  Charlotte, 
lawrence  did, 
have  followed 
th  the  Clueen 
jetroit.      The 


i 


11 


Queen  was  oxj:)ecting  it,  but  as  her  antagonist  did  not  come  up, 
she  shot  ahead  to  fire  upon  the  Lawrence,  and  in  so  doing   she 
passed  the  Hunter,  that  had  been  ahead  between  her  and  the 
Detroit,     After  a  lapse  of  two  hours  Elliot  filled  his  sails  and 
came  up,  the  Caledonia  moved  on  towards  the   Hunter,   which 
had  now  dropped  astern  and  to  the  leeward   of  the  Clueen. — 
Elliot  in  order  to  approach  the  Q,ueen  must  pass  the  Caledonia, 
which  he  did  to  the  windward  or  outside  of  her.  and   was  ap- 
proaching the  Lawrence,  which,  however,  was  crippled  and  was 
dropping  astern  a  perfect  wreck.     Elliot  then,  instead  of  passing 
directly  down  to  engage  the  Queen,  luffed  to  the  windward  to 
go  round  and  outside  of  the  Lawrence,  and  while  abreast  of  her 
larboard  beam,  and  nearly  half  a  mile   distant,  Perry  left   the 
Lawrence  for  the  Niagara  in  a  boat,  and  boarded  her  when  she 
had  reached  a  little  ahead  of  the  Lawrence  on  her  larboard  bow. 
The  Lawrence  now  hauled  down  her  flag  and  ceased  firing. — 
Perry  sent  Elliot  to  the  sniuU  vessels  astern  to  bring  them   up, 
and  turning  his  ship's  head  eight  points  towards  the  enemy's 
line,  making  a  right  angle  in  her  course,  he  went  within  pistol- 
shot  of  the  Detroit's  bow,  and  took  a  raking  position.     The  De- 
troit in  attempting  to  wear  to  bring  her  broadside  to  her,  fell  on 
board  the  Queen  Chailotte,  and  gave    Perry  a  chance   to  rake 
both  ships,  which  he  did  so  eftectually  that  in  five  mhuites  they 
hauled  down  their  colors.     Perry  now  shot  fiuthcr  ahead  near 
the  Lady  Prevost,  which  from  being  crippled  in  her  rudder,  had 
drifted  out  of  her  place  to  the  leeward,  and  was  pressing  forward 
towai'd  the  head  of  the  line  to  support  the  two  ships.      Perry 
gave  her  a  broad-sido  which  silenced  her  battery.     The  Hunter 
next  struck,  and  the  two  smaller  vessels  attempted  to  escape,  but 
were  overhauled  by  the  Scorpion  and  Tripp,  and  thus  ended  the 
action  at  near  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Let  us  now  advert  for  a  moment  to  the  scenes  exhibited  in 
the  flag-ship  Lawrence.  The  wounded  began  to  come  down 
before  the  Lawrence  opened  her  battery,  and  for  one  I  felt  im- 
patient at  the  delay.  In  proper  time  however  as  it  proved,  the 
dogs  of  war  were  let  loose  from  their  leash,  and  it  seemed  as 
though  lieaven  and  earth  were  at  logger-heads.  For  more  than 
two  long  hours,  little  could  bo  hoard  but  the  deafening  thunders 


f; 


:il 


of  our  own  broad-sides,  the  crash  of  balls  dashing  through  our 
timbers,  and  the  shrieks  of  the  wounded.  These  were  brought 
down  faster  than  I  could  attend  to  them,  farther  than  to  stay  the 
bleeding,  or  support  the  shattered  limbs  with  splints,  and  pass 
them  forward  upon  the  berth  deck.  Two  or  three  were  killed 
near  me,  after  being  wounded.  I  well  remember  the  complaints 
that  the  Niagara  did  not  come  up.  "  Why  does  she  hang  back 
so,  out  of  the  battle  ?"  Among  those  early  brought  down  was 
Lieutenant  Brooks,  son  of  the  late  Governor  Brooks,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, a  most  accomplished  gentleman  and  officer  ;  and  re- 
nowned for  personal  beauty.  A  cannon-ball  had  struck  him  in 
the  hip,  he  knew  his  doom,  and  inquired  how  long  he  should 
live ;  I  told  him  a  few  hours.  He  inquired  two  or  three  times 
how  the  day  was  going,  and  expressed  a  hope  that  the  Commo- 
dore would  be  spared.  But  new-comers  from  deck  brought 
more  and  more  dismal  reports,  until  finally  it  was  announced 
that  we  had  struck.  In  the  lamentations  of  despair  among  the 
wounded,  I  lost  sight  of  poor  Brooks  for  a  few  minutes,  but 
when  the  electrifying  cry  was  heard  that  the  enemy's  two  ships 
had  struck,  I  rushed  on  deck  to  see  if  it  were  true,  and  then  to 
poor  Brooks  to  cheer  him,  but  he  was  no  more, — he  was  too 
much  exhausted  by  his  wounds  to  survive  the  confusion  that 
preceded  this  happy  transition. 

When  the  battle  had  raged  an  hour  and  a  half,  I  heard  a  call 
for  me  at  the  small  sky-ligh' ,  and  stepping  toward  it  I  saw  it 
was  the  Commodore,  whose  countenance  was  as  calm  and  pla- 
cid as  if  on  ordinary  duty.  "DoctDr,"  said  he,  "send  me  one 
of  your  men,"  meaning  one  of  the  six  that  were  to  assist  me, 
which  was  done  instantly.  In  five  minutes  the  call  was  repeat- 
ed and  obeyed,  and  at  the  seventh  call  I  told  him  he  had  them 
all.  He  asked  if  any  could  pull  a  rope,  when  two  or  three  of 
the  wounded  crawled  upon  deck  to  lend  a  feeble  hand  in  pulling 
at  the  last  guns. 

When  the  battle  was  raging  most  severely,  Midshipman  Lamb 
came  down  with  his  arm  badly  fractured ;  I  applied  a  splint  and 
requested  him  to  go  forward  and  lie  down  ;  as  he  was  leaving 
me,  and  while  my  hand  was  on  him,  a  cannon-ball  struck  him 
in  the  side,  and  dashed  him  against  the  other  side  of  the   room, 


i:$ 


;hi-ough   our 
irere  brought 
,n  to  stay  the 
ts,   and  pass 
3  were  killed 
le  complaints 
3  hang  back 
ht  down  was 
s,  of  Massa- 
;er ;   and  re- 
truck  him  in 
ig  he  should 

three  times 
the  Commo- 
ieck  brought 
IS  announced 
ir  among  the 

minutes,  but 
[ly's  two  ships 
,  and  then  to 
-he  was  too 
onfusion  that 

I  heard  a  call 
d  it  I  saw  it 
aim  and  pla- 
send  me  one 
to  assist  me, 
all  was  repeat- 
he  had  them 
or  three  of 
land  in  pulling 

shipman  Lamb 
id  a  splint  and 

was  leaving 
ill  struck  him 

of  the   room. 


which  instantly  terminated  his  sufferings.  Charles  Pohig,  a 
Narraganset*  uliaii,  who  was  badly  wounded,  suffered  in  like 
manner. 

There  were  other  incidents  that  were  less  painful  to  witness. 
The  Commodore's  dog  had  secreted  himself  in  the  bottom  of 
the  closet  containing  all  our  crockery.  A  cannon-ball  passed 
through  the  closet,  and  smashed  crockery  and  door,  covering  the 
floor  with  fragments.  The  dog  set  up  a  barking  protest  against 
the  right  of  such  an  invasion  of  his  chosen  retirement. 

Lieutenant  Yarnel  had  his  scalp  badly  torn,  and  came  below 
with  the  blood  streaming  over  his  face  ;  some  lint  was  hastily 
applied  and  confined  with  a  large  bandanna,  with  directions  to 
report  himself  for  better  dressing  after  the  battle,  and  he  insisted 
on  returning  to  the  deck.  The  cannon-balls  had  knocked  to 
pieces  the  hammocks  stowed  away  on  deck,  and  let  loose  their 
contents,  which  were  reed  or  flag  tops,  that  floated  in  the  air 
like  feathers  and  gave  the  appearance  of  a  snow-storm.  These 
lighted  upon  Yarnel's  head  covered  with  blood,  and  on  coming 
below  with  another  injury,  his  bloody  face  covered  with  the  cat 
tails  made  his  head  resemble  that  of  a  huge  owl.  Some  of  the 
wounded  roared  out  with  laughter  that  the  devil  had  come  for  us. 

The  hard  fighting  terminated  about  three  o'clock.  As  the 
smoke  cleared  away  the  two  fleets  were  found  completely  min- 
gled, the  small  vessels  astern  having  come  up  to  the  others. — 
The  shattered  Lawrence  lying  to  the  windward  was  once  more 
able  to  hoist  her  flag,  which  was  cheered  by  a  few  feeble  voices 
on  board,  making  a  melancholy  sound  compared  with  the  bois- 
terous cheers  that  preceded  the  battle. 

The  proud  though  painful  duty  of  taking  possession  of  the 
conquered  ships  was  now  performed.  The  Detroit  was  nearly 
dismantled,  and  the  destruction  and  carnage  had  been  dreadful. 
The  Q,ueen  was  in  a  condition  little  better.  The  whole  num- 
ber killed  in  the  British  fleet  was  forty-one,  and  of  wounded 
ninety-foiur.  Every  commander  and  second  in  command,  says 
Bar(ilay  in  his  official  report,  was  either  killed  or  wounded.  In 
our  fleet  were  twenty-seven  killed,  and  ninety-six  wounded  ;  of 
the  twenty-seven  killed,  twenty-two  were  on  board  the  Law- 
rence, and  of  the  ninety-six  wounded,  sixty-one  were  on  board 


s 
i 


14 


(* 


this  same  ship,  making  eighty-three  killed  and  wounded  out  of 
one  hundred  and  one  reported  fit  fur  duty  in  the  Ijawrence 
on  the  morning  of  the  battle.  On  board  the  Niagara  were  two 
killed  and  twenty-three  wounded,  making  twenty-five  ;  and  out 
of  these  twenty-five,  twenty-two  were  killed  or  wounded  after 
Perry  took  command  of  her. 

About  four  o'clock,  a  boat  was  discovered  approaching  the 
Lawrence.  Soon  the  Commodore  was  recognized  in  her;  who 
was  returning  to  resume  the  command  of  his  tattered  ship,  de- 
termined that  the  remnant  of  her  crew  should  have  the  satisfac- 
tion of  witnessing  the  formal  surrender  of  the  British  officers. — 
It  was  a  time  of  conflictng  emotions  when  he  stepped  upon 
deck  ;  the  battle  was  won  and  he  was  safe,  but  the  deck  was 
slippery  with  blood,  and  strewn  with  the  bodies  of  twenty  offi- 
cers and  men,  some  of  whom  had  set  at  table  with  us  at  our 
last  meal,  and  the  ship  resounded  everywhere  with  the  groans 
of  the  wounded.  Those  of  us  who  were  spared  and  able  to 
walk,  met  him  at  the  gangway  to  welcome  him  on  board,  but 
the  salutation  was  a  silent  one  on  both  sides  ;  not  a  word  could 
find  utterance. 

And  now  the  British  officers  arrived,  one  from  each  vessel,  to 
tender  their  submission,  and  with  it  their  swords.  "When  they 
had  approached,  picking  their  way  among  the  wreck  and  car- 
nage of  the  deck,  they  held  their  swords  with  the  hilts  toward 
Perry,  and  tendered  them  to  his  acceptance.  With  a  dignified 
and  solemn  air,  the  most  remote  possible  from  any  betrayal  of 
exultation,  and  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  he  requested  them  to  re- 
tain their  side-arms,  inquired  with  deep  concern  for  Commodore 
Barclay  and  the  wounded  officers,  tendering  to  them  every  com- 
fort his  ship  aflbrded,"  and  expressing  his  regret  that  he  had  not 
a  spare  medical  officer  to  send  them,  adding  that  he  had  only 
one  on  duty  for  the  fleet,  who  had  his  hands  full. 

Among  the  ninety-six  wounded  there  occurred  three  deaths ; 
a  result  so  favorable  was  attributable  to  the  plentiful  supply  of 
provisions  brought  off  from  the  Ohio  shore,  to  fresh  air,  the 
wounded  being  ranged  under  an  awning  on  the  deck  until  w^e 
arrived  at  Erie  ten  days  after  the  action,  and  also  to  the  devoted 
attention  of  Commodore  Porrv  toev^erv  Avnnt. 


.',* 
4 


'■* 


15 


imdcd  out  of 
he  liawrence 
;ara  were  two 
five ;  and  out 
bounded  after 

)proaching  the 
i  in  her;  who 
cred  ship,  de- 
re  the  satisfac- 
tish  officers. — 
stepped  upon 
the  deck  was 
of  twenty  offi- 
rith  us  at  our 
ith  the  groans 
d  and  able  to 
on  board,  but 
it  a  word  could 

each  vessel,  to 
"When  they 
reck  and   car- 
hilts   toward 
ith  a  dignified 
ny  betrayal  of 
ted  them  to  re- 
for  Commodore 
lem  every  com- 
that  he  had  not 
he  had  only 
1. 

i  three  deaths ; 

itiful   supply  of 

fresh  air,   the 

deck  until  we 

to  the  devoted 


Those  who  were  killed  in  the  battle  were  conunitlcd  to  the 
deep  at  night-fall,  the  Episcopal  service  being  read  over  them. 
On  the  following  morning,  the  two  fleets  sailed  into  Put-in-bay, 
where  the  slain  officers  were  buried  on  shore.  The  scene  was 
a  solemn  one.  Equal  respect  was  paid  to  the  slain  of  the  two 
fleets.  Minute-guns  were  fired  from  the  fleet,  a  martial  band 
preceded,  performing  a  funeral  dirge,  and  the  corpses  were 
ranged  in  alternate  order  of  American  and  llritish,  and  the  pro- 
cession followed  in  like  order  to  the  graves,  wIrmg  the  funeral 
service  was  read.  A  striking  contrast  this  to  the  scene  presented 
two  days  before,  when  both  the  living  and  the  dead  now  form- 
ing this  solemn  and  fraternal  train  were  engaged  in  fierce  and 
bloody  strife,  hurling  at  each  other  the  thunder-bolts  of  war. — 
When  will  Christian  nations  learn  to  act  like  consistent  Chris- 
tians ? 

On  the  8th  day  after  the  action,  the  Lawrence  was  despatched 
to  Erie  with  the  wounded,  where  we  received  a  cordial  welcome 
and  kind  hospitality.  The  remainder  of  the  fleet  conveyed  Har- 
rison's army  to  Maiden,  and  some  of  the  vessels  ascended  the 
Detroit  rivei'.  Harrison  found  the  army  of  General  Proctor  had 
gone,  after  burin'ng  the  public  stores,  and  had  retreated  tOAvard 
the  Thames.  Perry  joined  Harrison  as  a  volunteer  aid,  and  our 
troops  pursued,  overtook  and  captured  the  army,  the  only  army 
that  was  captured  during  the  war.  Proctor  escaped,  his  com- 
panion Tecumseh,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  was  killed, 
since  a  dozen  persons  claim  the  honor  of  firing  the  fatal  ball.-: — 
Perry  then  accompanied  Harrison  and  Commodore  Barclay  to 
Erie,  where  they  landed  amid  peals  of  cannon  and  the  shouts  of 
the  multitude.  Perry  thence  returned  to  Newport,  receiving  on 
his  way  the  acclamations  of  a  grateful  people  in  every  city  and 
village  through  which  he  passed. 

In  reviewing  the  incidents  of  the  battle,  we  must  admit  that 
in  several  particulars  the  enemy  had  hard  luck,  which  contributed 
to  their  defeat  and  capture.  The  Avind  turned  in  our  favor 
before  the  action  began.  The  Commanders  of  their  two  vessels 
were  killed  or  severely  wounded  early ;  the  rudder  of  the  Lady 
Prevost  was  disabled,  which  caused  her  to  drift  out  of  the  line  ; 
and  worse  than  this,   the  running  of  the  Queen  against  the  Be- 


IG 


f/ 


troit,  which  prevented  her  wearing,  and  exposed  both  ships  to  a 
raking  fire  from  the  thrity-two  pound  carronades  of  the  Niagara, 
a  fresh  ship,  and  in  prime  order, — all  helped  to  turn  the  day  in 
our  favor.  To  this  it  should  be  added  that  the  enemy  were 
just  out  of  port,  and  had  not  been  training  their  guns  daily  for 
weeks,  as  our  men  had  done,  which  enabled  them  to  load  and 
fire  with  astonishing  frequency. 

Immediately  after  the  battle,  the  Commodore  despatched  to 
General  Harrison  the  following  note  :  "  Dear  General,  We  have 
met  the  enemy  and  they  are  ours,  two  ships,  two  brigs,  one  sloop 
and  one  schooner,"  adding  in  a  postscript,  "send  us  some  soldiers 
to  help  take  care  of  the  prisoners,  who  are  more  numerous  than 
ourselves."  At  the  same  time  he  announced  the  victory  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  in  the  followhig  words.  "  It  has  pleased 
the  Almighty  to  give  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States  a  signal 
victory  over  their  enemies  on  this  lake.  The  British  squadron, 
consisting  of  two  ships,  two  brigs,  one  sloop  ajid  one  schooner, 
have  this  moment  surrendered  to  the  force  under  ray  command 
after  a  sharp  conflict." 

And  now  followed  the  more  difficult  task  of  making  out  a  de- 
tailed report,  in  which  Perry  must  spealc  of  the  conduct  of  the 
principal  dcck-olficcrs  of  the  fleet ;  a  task  that  Avas  quite  as  per- 
plexing to  him  as  the  fighting  of  the  battle  had  been. 

The  ofiicers  of  the  small  vessels  came  on  board  the  Lawrence 
on  the  second  evening  from  the  battle,  and  all  of  them,  without 
exception,  expressed  but  one  opinion  of  the  conduct  of  Elliot,  in 
keeping  out  of  the  battle,  that  he  held  back  more  than  two 
hours  from  engaging  his  antagonist  the  (iucen,  that  when  the 
Lawrence  was  much  cripj)led  and  began  to  drop  astern,  the  Ni- 
agara then  came  up  abreast  of  her,  not  between  her  and  the  ene- 
my, but  far  away  outside,  much  farther  from  the  Lawrence  than 
the  Lawrence  was  from  the  enemy,  that  Perry  at  this  moment 
havhig  fought  his  own  ship  to  the  last,  entered  a  boat  with  five 
men,  and  rowed  to  the  Niagara,  and  by  the  time  he  reached  her 
she  was  on  the  larboard  bow  of  the  Lawrence,  from  a  third  to 
half  a  mile  distant.  That  he  immediately  despatched  Captain 
Elliot  to  the  stern  vessels,  and  turned  the  Niagara's  head  to- 
ward the  enemy,  so  as  to  make  nearly 


n'frllt 


inrrlo     \XT\ 


til   the 


i: 


wth  ships  to  a 
>f  the  Niagara, 
11  the  day  ill 
enemy  were 
uns  daily  for 
I  to  load  and 

despatched  to- 
leral,  We  have 
brigs,  one  sloop 
s  some  soldiers 
[lumerous  than 

victory  to  the 
'  It  has  pleased 
hates  a  signal 
ritish  squadron, 
one    schooner, 

ray  command 

aking  ont  a  de- 
onduct  of  the 
s  quite  as  per- 
een. 

I  the  Lawrence 
them,  without 
ict  of  Elliot,  in 
nore  than  two 
hat   when  the 
istern,  the   Ni- 
ler  and  the  ene- 
Lawrence  than 
t  this   moment 
boat  with  five 
he  reached  her 
om  a  third  to 
\tched   Captain 
aia's   head    to- 

iirrlo     urith      thC 


M 


cnursj  she  had  been  steering,  and  crossing  the  hne  the  Lawrence 
was  steering,  about  sixty  yards  ahead  of  her,  came  within  pistol- 
shot  of  the  enemy's  flag-ship  Detroit.  These  facts  every  officer 
agreed  to,  and  the  log-book  of  the  Ijawrence,  written  up  on  the 
evening  of  the  battle,  and  which  is  the  best  official  document 
that  could  be  furnished,  states  them  in  about  so  many  words. 

Nor  did  any  one  suppose  that  Elliot  or  any  of  his  officers 
would  take  any  ground  contrary  to  these  facts.  But  Elliot  per- 
ceiving their  bearing,  and  to  save  himself,  began  to  pay  court  to 
Perry.  He  took  to  his  bed  and  sent  for  Dr.  Parsons  to  visit 
him  on  the  second  day  after  the  battle,  who  could  discover  no 
positive  disease  upon  him.  He  spoke  disparagingly  of  his  Sur- 
geon, remai'king  that  he  was  sicK,  and  if  well  was  good  for  noth- 
ing, and  requested  Dr.  Parsons  to  attend  his  wounded,  who  re- 
plied that  Dr.  Barton  was  a  good  Surgeon,  and  in  a  few  days 
would  be  able  to  return  to  duty.  The  wounded  were  however 
all  removed  on  board  the  Lawrence,  now  made  a  general  hospi- 
tal ship,  to  be  sent  to  Erie.  Elliot  also  sent  for  Perry  while 
thus  confined  to  his  bed,  when  he  expressed  to  him  his  regret 
that  he  had  not  entered  earlier  into  the  action,  extolled  Perry's 
conduct  and  offered  some  lame  excuse  for  his  own  ;  and  this  in- 
sinuating course  induced  Commodore  Perry,  under  the  gener- 
ous impulses  of  his  nature,  to  try  to  save  him.  Perry  knew 
that  the  officers  of  all  the  vessels  of  the  fleet,  except  the  Niaga- 
ra, had  expressed  their  opinion  against  Elliot ;  and  fearing  that 
their  letters  to  their  friends  might  ruin  him,  he  sent  two  confi- 
dential persons,  Messrs.  Hambleton  and  Turner,  to  all  the  fleet, 
to  say  that  he.  Perry,  though  not  satisfied  with  Elliot's  con- 
duct, wished  to  save  him,  and  requested  that  they  would  be  si- 
lent, respecting  the  fact  of  his  keeping  out  of  battle  for  more 
than  two  hours,  adding,  that  there  was  honor  enough  gained  for 
the  fleet  to  enable  it  to  save  Elliot.  They  all  but  one  com- 
plied with  this  request  ;  but  some  of  the  volunteers  from  the  ar- 
my were  not  applied  to,  and  some  of  their  letters,  with  one  from 
Yarnel  escaped,  in  wliich  Elliot's  conduct  was  condemned. 

Of  course  when  Perry's  official  report  appeared  in  print,  tlie 
officers  of  the  Lawrence  were  dissatisfied  at  his  saying  so  much 
in  favor  of  Elliot.     They  had  expected  that   he  would    !ioi 


M... 


ill 


HI 


I  'I 


IH 

speak  of  him  at  all.  But  Perry  had  resolved  to  save  him  from 
public  censure,  and  therefore  says  in  his  report,  "  at  half-past 
two,  the  wind  springing  up,  Captain  Elliot  was  enabled  to  bring 
his  vessel  gallantly  into  close  action.  I  immediately  went  on 
board  of  her,  when  he  anticipated  my  wishes  by  volunteering 
to  bring  up  the  schooners  into  close  action."     (See  Appendix.) 

Beside  this  desire  to  save  Elliot,  Perry  was  unwilling  that  the 
enemy  should  know,  that  the  second  in  command  in  our  squad- 
ron had  failed  in  his  duty.  In  expressuig  his  doubts  to  Mr. 
Hambleton,  his  confidential  friend,  at  the  tin)e  of  drawing  up 
the  report,  he  quoted  with  approbation  the  declaration  of  an 
English  admiral.  "  It  is  better  to  screen  a  coward,  than  to  let 
the  enemy  know  there  is  one  in  the  fleet." 

Perry  before  signing  his  oflicial  report,  allowed  Elliot  to  see 
what  he  had  written,  with  which  he  expressed  iiimself  as  satis- 
fied. But  the  stubborn  fact  there  stated  that  •*  at  half-past  two, 
the  wind  springing  up,  enabled  him  to  bring  his  ship  gallantly 
into  action,"  coupled  with  the  in([uiry  which  he  foresaw  the 
public  would  naturally  make,  why  he  did  not  advance  to  his 
station  wheix  the  Lawrence  pushed  forward  into  hers,  both  ships 
being  in  all  respects  alike,  and  having  the  same  wind, — this 
stared  him  in  the  face.  He  applied  to  Perry  to  vary  that  state- 
ment in  some  way,  so  as  to  screen  him.  He  also  immediately 
and  secretly  drew  certificates  from  his  own  officers,  showing  that 
he  had  done  his  duty,  which  as  they  belonged  to  the  ship  whose 
reputation  seemed  to  involve  their  own,  under  the  moulding  in- 
fluence which  a  commander  always  has  over  his  officers,  they 
v/ere  prevailed  upon  to  sign.  Thi!!  was  an  advantage  which 
Perry  did  not  avail  himself  of;  for  very  soon  after  the  battle  he 
left  the  fleet  for  home,  unconscious  that  Elliot  was  busily  at 
work  in  obtaining  certificates  from  his  officers.  When  the  cer- 
tificates of  the  Lawrence's  officers  were  obtained  some  years 
after,  not  one  of  them  was  under  Perry's  command. 

At  the  same  time  that  Elliot  was  obtaining  these  certificates 
he  was  making  artful  appeals  to  Perry  for  stronger  expressions 
of  praise  upon  his  conduct.  On  the  18th  of  September,  he  said 
in  a  note  to  Perry,  that  his  reputation  was  suffering  in  the  neigh- 

\j\jin\}\y\x  wi  mo  iaiiliiyj  aiiu  icqucsicu  tt    wiutcii    Miiitj^iiieiit    iioiii 


19 


save  him  from 
,  "at  half-past 
iiiabled  to  bring 
iately  went  on 
jy  voUmteering 
See  Appendix.) 
1  willing  that  the 
id  in  our  squad- 
doubts  to  Mr. 
of  drawing  up 
claration  of  an 
ird,  than  to  let 

d  Elliot  to  see 
limself  as  satis- 
at  half-past  two, 
is  ship  gallantly 
he  foresaw  the 
advance  to  his 
hers,  both  ships 
me  wind, — this 

vary  that  state- 
so  immediately 
rs,  showing  that 
o  the  ship  whose 
he  moulding  in- 
lis  officers,  they 
Ivantage  which 
er  the  battle  he 
was  busily  at 
When  the  cer- 
ned  some  years 
md. 

heso  certificates 
iger  expressions 
ptember,  he  said 
ing  in  the  n  eigh- 

statement  from 


him  as  to  his  conduct  in  the  battle.  Perry,  not  knowing  the 
insidious  course  that  Elliot  was  pursuing  toward  him,  wrote  a 
very  favorable  letter,  supposing  he  wished  to  send  it. to  his  fam- 
ily ;  doubtless  he  M-as  irritated  by  the  thought  that  his  wish  to 
save  Elliot  had  been  frustrated.  He  expressed  himself  as  being 
dissatisfied  and  vexed  at  being  thwarted  in  his  detennined  pur- 
pose, and  in  this  state  of  mind,  and  moved  by  the  pathetic  ap- 
peal of  Elliot,  he  wrote?  him  the  following  letter. 

"Sr.i'T.  19,  1813. 
"Deab  Sir, 

I  received  your  note  last  eveniii));  after  I  bad  turned  in,  or  I  should 
have  answered  it  immediately.  I  nm  iudii;nant  th"t  any  rejiort  should  he  in  cir- 
culation prejudicial  to  yom*  character,  an  respcutK  the  action  of  the  10th  inntaut. 
It  affords  me  plea.sure  that  I  have  it  in  my  power  to  assure  you,  that  the  con- 
duct of  youi-self,  officers,  and  crew  was  such  an  to  meet  my  warmest  approhatior. 
And  I  consider  the  circumBtonco  of  your  voluntewing  and  bringing  the  smaller 
vessels  into  closer  action,  as  contributing  largely  to  our  victory.  I  shall  ever  be- 
lieve it  a  jncmeditated  plan  of  the  enemy  to  dwablc  our  commanding  voHsel,  by 
bringing  all  their  force  to  bear  upon  hex* ;  and  I  am  Batlsliod,  had  thoy  not  pur- 
sued their  course,  the  engagement  would  not  have  lasted  thirty  minutes.  I  have 
no  doubt,  if  the  Charlotte  liad  not  made  sail  and  engaged  the  Lawrence,  the  Ni- 
agara would  have  taken  her  in  twenty  minutes. 

llespeclfuUv,  iiv, 

O.  11.  PERRY." 

This  may  be  regarded  as  a  rope  thrown  to  a  droAvniug  man, 
but  whirh  instead  of  saving  Elliot,  enabled  him  to  pull  Perry 
overboard. 

In  a  letter  to  his  friend  Hambleton,  a  few  months  after,  when 
he  heard  of  Elliot's  intrigues,  Perry  says,  "  I  was  sensible  on 
reflection,  I  had  already  said  too  much  in  my  official  report."- — 
'*  Subsequently  1  became  involved  in  his  snares  :  and  on  his 
writing  me  a  note  of  which  he  has  published  only  a  part,  I  was 
silly  enough  to  write  him  in  reply  the  foolish  letter  of  the  19th 
of  September,  because  I  thought  it  necessary  to  persevere  in 
endeavorhig  to  save  him."  •'  This  undoubtedly  reflects  on  toy 
head,  but  not  on  my  heart.  I  was  willing  enough  to  share  with 
him  and  others  the  fame  1  had  acquired."  Again  he  says,  "  It 
was  a  matter  of  great  doubt  when  I  reflected  upon  Elliot's  con- 
duct, to  what  to  attribute  his  keeping  so  long  out  of  action." — 
'*  I  did  not  then  know  enough  of  human  nature  to  believe  that 
any  one  could  be  so  base  as  to  be  guilty  of  the  motive  which 
some  ascribed  to  him,  namely,  a  determination  to  sacrifice  me 
by  keeping  his  vessel  out  of  the  conflict." 


90 


.  i: 


Lfiarning  that  Elliot  persisted  in  his  intrigues,  aiming  to  ele» 
vatc  himself  at  the  expense  of  his  Commander  who  had  endeav- 
ored to  save  him,  Perry  spoke  of  him  as  one  who  would  find  it 
for  his  interest  to  say  less  about  Lako  Erie,  as  he  would  injure 
himself  by  bringing  before  the  public  eye  n  different  and  truer 
representation  of  his  conduct  than  had  hitherto  been  given. — 
Some  of  his  remarks  of  this  nature  reached  Elliot's  ear,  upon 
which  ho  sent  Perry  a  challenge  with  an  insulting  note,  who 
responded,  that  he  would  be  entitled  to  a  meeting  when  he  had 
cleared  himself  from  the  charges  about  to  be  forwarded  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy.  Accompanying  the  charges  was  a  letter 
from  Perry,  explanatory  of  his  whole  course  of  action  towards 
Captain  Elliot  from  and  after  the  battle,  a  few  extracts  from  which 
are  inserted.  He  says,  "  At  the  moment  of  writing  my  Official 
Report  I  did  in  my  own  mind  avoid  coming  to  any  conclusion 
to  what  cause  the  conduct  of  Captain  Elliot  was  to  be  imputed : 
Nor  was  I  then  fully  acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances  re- 
lating to  it."  *  *  "I  was,  after  the  engagement  commenced, 
necessarily  too  much  engaged  in  the  actual  scene  before  me,  to 
reflect  deliberately  upon  the  cause  which  could  induce  Captain 
Elliot  to  keep  his  vessel  so  distant  both  from  me  and  the  enemy. 
And,  after  tlie  battle  was  won,  I  felt  no  disposition  rigidly  to 
examine  into  the  conduct  of  any  of  the  officers  of  the  fleet  ; 
and,  strange  as  the  behaviour  of  Captain  Elliot  had  been,  yet  I 
could  not  allow  myself  to  come  to  a  decided  opinion." 

*'  The  subsequent  conduct  also  of  Captain  Elliot ;  the  readi- 
ness with  which  he  undertook  the  most  minute  services ;  the 
unfortunate  situation  in  which  he  now  stood,  which  he  lamented 
to  me,  and  his  marked  endeavore  to  conciliate  protection,  were 
calculated  to  have  their  effect.  But,  still  more  than  all,  I  was 
actuated  by  a  strong  desire  that,  in  the  fleet  I  then  had  the  hon- 
or to  command,  there  should  be  nothing  but  harmony  after  the 
victory  had  been  gahied,  and  that  nothing  should  transpire  which 
would  bring  reproach  upon  any  part  of  it,  or  convert  into  crimi- 
nation the  praises  to  which  it  was  entitled,  and  which  1  wished 
all  to  share  and  enjoy.  The  difficulties  produced  in  my  mind 
by  these  considerations  were,  at  the  time,  fully  expressed  to  an 
officer  of  the  fleet,  in  whom  I  had  great  confidence.     If  I  omit- 


21 


aiming  to  ele- 
•ho  had  endeav- 
>  would  find  it 
le  would  injure 
erent  and  truer 
been  given. — 
liot's  ear,  npon 
:ing  note,  who 
g  when  he  had 
rwarded  to  the 
rges  was  a  letter 
action  towards 
racts  from  which 
ting  my  Official 
any  conclusion 
J  to  he  imputed : 
rcumstances  re- 
mt  commenced, 
le  before  me,  to 
induce  Captain 
!  and  the  enemy, 
ition  rigidly  to 
rs  of  the  fleet  ; 
had  been,  yet  I 
nion." 

iot ;   the   readi- 

e  services;  the 

lich  he  lamented 

)rotection,  were 

;han  all,  I   was 

en  had  the  hon- 

rmony  after  the 

transpire  which 

iivert  into  crimi- 

which  1  wished 

d  in  my   mind 

jxpressed  to   an 

ice.     If  I  omit- 


ed  to  name  Captain  Elliot,  or  named  him  without  credit,  I  might 
not  only  ruin  that  officer,  but  at  the  same  time  give  occasion  to 
animadversions  which,  at  that  period,  I  thought  would  bo  little 
to  the  honor  or  advantage  of  the  service.  If  my  Official  Report 
of  that  transaction  is  reverted  to,  these  embarrassments  with  re  - 
spect  to  Captain  Elliot,  under  which  I  labored  in  drawing  it, 
will,  I  believe,  be  apparent.  That  report  was  \'ery  different 
from  what  had  been  expected  by  the  officers  of  the  fleet  ;  but, 
having  adopted  the  course  which  I  thought  most  prudent  to  pur- 
sue with  regard  to  Captain  Elliot,  I  entreated  them  to  acquiesce 
in  it,  and  made  every  exertion  in  ray  power  to  prevent  any  far- 
ther remarks  on  his  conduct,  and  even  furnished  him  with  a  fa- 
vorable letter  or  certificate  for  the  same  purpose,  of  which  he  has 
since  made  a  very  unjustifiable  use."  These  extracts  are  inser- 
ted out  of  their  place,  in  order  to  show  what  Perry's  opinion  of 
him  was  during  the  five  years  after  he  left  I^ake  Erie. 

Perry's  life  was  saved  amid  the  carnage  of  his  own  ship,  and 
he  was  enabled  to  come  off  victorious  in  the  fresh  ship  which 
Elliot  had  reserved  from  danger,  in  order  that  he  might  pluck 
the  laurels  with  his  own  hand.  The  conduct  of  Elliot,  although 
it  doomed  the  Lawrence  to  a  dreadful  slaughter  and  prolonged 
the  conflict,  was  not  after  all  an  unmixed  evil  in  its  consequen- 
ces. The  Niagara  was  in  perfect  order  for  Perry  when  he 
boarded  her,  and  in  much  better  condition  than  she  could  have 
been  had  she  engaged  her  antagonist  early  in  the  fight. 

There  is  probably  not  to  be  found  in  the  history  of  naval  war- 
fare an  instance  where  the  heroism  of  one  man  has  shone  with 
such  transcendanl  lustre  over  all  others,  as  that  of  Perry  in  the 
battle  of  Lake  Erie.  After  fighting  his  own  ship  till  eighty- 
thi'ee  were  killed  or  wounded  out  of  one  hundred  and  one,  he 
goes  to  a  fresh  ship  of  the  same  size  having  only  three  men  in- 
jured, and  takes  her  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  in  seven 
minutes  adds  twenty-two  to  the  list,  making  one  hundred  and 
five  killed  and  wounded  on  the  decks  on  which  he  stood,  while 
the  whole  number  injured  on  the  deck  where  Elliot  stood  was 
but  three.  Then  as  one  hundred  and  five  is  to  three,  so  was 
the  danger  to  which  Perry  was  exposed,  compared  with  Elliot's 
exposure. 


[/ 


89 

On  the  otiier  liund,  there  is  no  other  iuotance  on  record  wheiv 
the  ser(ii>tl  m  command  hns  done  so  little  to  s!;cnro  a  victory. — 
'^lliot  firrivfd  on  tli*^  lake  after  the  laW  of  building,  arming, 
rigging,  and  equippin*^  the  fleet,  a  most  difficult  and  jMirplexing 
task,  had  l)f*en  |K?rfornntl  I>v  Perry,  Turner  and  Tavloi"  of  Rliodo 
Islam  I  He  s:iils  nt  once  in  a  ship  of  llie  same  size  and  model 
and  armairtent,  as  the  llag-ship.  Instead  of  engaging  his  antag- 
onist as  ordered,  lu  hangs  Imrk,  firing  one  or  two  long  bow 
guns,  which  wore  the  only  ones  that  could  reach  his  antagonist; 
he  hugs  the  wind,  going  tar  away  outside  of  the?  line, — he  then 
leaves  her  with  only  throe  men  injured,  to  bring  up  the  dull- 
sailing  vessels  in  the  rear,  which,  with  the  aid  of  sweeps,  they 
had  nearly  done  of  tliemselves  before  he  reached  them ;—  he 
was  probably  about  as  long  a  time  in  rowing  to  thes(  several! 
vessels  as  Perry  was  in  reaching  the  Detroit  within  pistol  uib- 
tanco  ; — the  victory  was  gained  in  a  few  minutes  after,  and 
there  was  naone  injured  in  the  small  vessel*  white  he,  Elliot^ 
was  on  board  of  them. 

Prejudiced  if  not  hireling  writers,  among  whom  was  the  late 
J.  Fenimore  Cooper,  whose  Naval  History  contains  mistaken 
and  mis-statements,  have  endeavored  to  retrieve  Elliot's  reputa- 
tion by  asserting  that  the  friends  of  Perry  were  not  reliable 
witnesses  in  the  ca-H'.  He  intimates  that  Dr,  Parsons'  testimony 
shows  a  strong  bias  against  Elliot,  liecause  he  testifies  some 
years  after  the  battle,  that  wlx^n  called  on  board  the  Niagara  to 
attend  their  wounded  two  days  after  the  action,  (their  surgeon 
being  sick,)  he  inquired  at  what  time  in  the  action  they  were 
wounded.  Cooper  wished  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  IXictor 
was  actuated  in  this  inquiry  of  the  wounded  by  a  desire  to  draw 
from  them  evidence  against  Eiliot.  Now  it  hapjiens  that  the 
Doctor's  motive  for  making  the  inquiry  '\  is  lUopether  foreign 
from  what  Cooper  h  t.  falsely  imputed.  Uc  hi  rl  not  the  r^'^st 
distant  idea  of  ever  being  called  upon  .m     (MI  or  even   a 

verbal  statement  relating  to  tlve  matter.  His  motive  was  this, 
and  only  this.  The  wounded  of  ike  Niagara  Iwd  lain  more 
than  forty  hours  with  their  wounds  undressed,  and  each  one 
vas  impatient  and  clamorous  for  first  attendance.  But  as  he 
("^'iid  not  nres^nli  at.  otice,  it  was  necessarv  to  adopt  son»f   riiK- 


>• 


*i3 


m  record  wher* 
iro  a  victory. — 
llding,  arming, 
and  jMjrplexing 
V'loiofflliodo 
iizc  ntid  model 
iging  hisantag- 
two  loni;  bow 
I  his  antagonist; 
line, — he  then 
g  up  tlic  duU- 
r  sweeps,  they 
led  them ;—  he 
I  thes(  several! 
hin  pistol  iiiK*- 
ites  after,  and 
lire  he^  Elliot, 

tn  was  tho   late 

itains  mistaken 

Elliot's  reputa- 

•e  not  reliable 

sons'  testimony 

testifies  some 

the  Niagara  to 

(their  surgeon 

ion  they   were 

lat  the   Doctor 

I  desire  to  draw 

)pens   that   the 

)eether  foreign 

''  not  the  m-^st 

till  or  even   ai 

K)tive  was  this, 

liad  lain  more 

and   each   one 

3.      But  as  he 

lopt  sorrxf   niit' 


4 


Ihat  should  be  oiiuitablc,  and  stop  Ihoir  clumor  (or  some  hours  ; 
and  this  rule  was,  to  take  ikmu  in  tho  order  of  succession  in 
which  they  fell ;  and  in  making  the  impiiry  who  were  first 
wounded,  two  reiunted  tin  n selves  as  wounded  before  Ferry 
came  on  board.  (HIuts  would  have  reported  in  like  manner  if 
they  could  have  done  it,  h  f  it  was  (•(Micrded  by  all  that  these 
two  were  entitled  to  first  attendance,  because  thy  were  wound- 
ed before  Elliot  loft  the  ship,  and  \\>  others  rrvule  a.iy  mk  li  pre- 
tension. It  was  necessary  to  adopt  the  sau\o  rule  of  succession 
in  the  Lawrence  the  day  previous,  and  he  so  stated  fhc  fact  in 
!*  sii'gical  account  of  the  battle  published  soon  after  it  took  ]>lace, 
tail  1  before  the  controversy  between  Perry  and  Elliot  appeared 
before  the  public.  Was  it  fair  and  honorable  in  Coopt^r  to  as- 
sign false  motives  for  his  conduct  in  this  matter,  merely  for  the 
purpose  of  bolstering  the  reputation  of  Elliot  ? 

Again,  Cooper  intimates  that  the  testimony  of  several  officers 
in  favor  of  Perry  should  bo  received  with  much  caution:  that 
Messrs.  Parsons,  Breese,  Taylor,  Champlin  and  Brownell  ippear 
to  have  been  natives  of  Rhode-Island,  and  to  have  uccomfHinied 
Perry  when  he  left  the  State ;  that  they  were  consequenth  par- 
tisan witnesses,  and  not  entitled  to  confidence.  Now  it  ha|  nens 
that  Dr.  Parsons  never  saw  Rhode-Island,  nor  a  Rhode-Isi md 
citizen,  until  ho  met  these  gallant  fellows  on  the  Lake,  althoi  gh 
Cooper  reiterates  the  charge  not  less  than  five  times  in  the 
pamphlet.  Not  one  of  these  officers  was  ever  requested  hy 
Perry  or  any  other  person  to  express  an  opinion  respecting  tl  e 
battle,  during  the  five  yeara  next  after  it  occurred,  and  not  even 
then,  while  under  his  command  and  influence  ;  whilst  the  certifi- 
cates of  the  officers  rf  the  Niagara,  Elliot  hastened  to  obtain 
immediately  after  the  action,  and  when  the  certifiers  were  under 
his  comma, id,  and  subject  to  his  capricious  discipline.  Their 
ship  beiuir  in  bad  odor  with  the  public,  (although  their  own 
good  conduct  had  never'been  questioned,)  it  was  natural  that 
they  should  endeavor  to  place  her  commander's  conduct  before 
Perry  boarded  her,  in  as  favorable  a  light  as  possible.  Elliot 
began  his  intrigues  with  them  by  representing  to  Purser  Ma- 
grath  and  Sailing-master  Webster,  that  butfor  his  own  exertions 
and  interc'Rsions  the  v  would  not  have  been  mentioned   in  Per- 


tM 


f/ 


ry's  official  report  of  the  action.  Magrath  too  had  about  this 
time  sent  an  insulting  message  to  Perry,  who  had  given  him  an 
order  to  execute  as  Purser,  to  which  he  replied  that  he  was  not 
Commodore  Perry's  lackey  For  this  disrespect  to  his  command- 
er he  was  arrested,  but  after  making  a  suitable  apology,  he  was 
restored  to  duty. 

You  will  perceive  then  the  6rigin  of  Magrath's  vindictive  course 
toward  Perry.  While  smarting  under  the  thought  of  his  arrest, 
and  the  irritation  which  Elliot's  remarks  occasioned,  this  file- 
leader  of  his  certifiers,  wrote  the  letter  extolling  Elliot,  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy, — a  distorted  version  of  the  battle  pub- 
lished in  the  Erie  Gazette, — his  own  certificate,  and  last  but  not 
least,  the  congratulatory  address  of  the  Niagara's  officers  to 
Elliot.  But  after  a  few  months'  calm  reflection,  Mr.  Magrath 
said,  in  my  hearing,  that  he  wished  his  fingers  had  been  cut  off 
before  he  signed  those  papers ;  and  Mr.  Brownell  testifies  under 
oath  that  he  wished  his  hand  had  been  cut  off  first.  A  few 
months  later  Magrath  disobeyed  an  order  from  Commodore  Sin- 
clair, for  which  he  was  required  to  deliver  up  his  commission  as 
purser  and  to  leave  the  service  ;  which  he  did,  and  a  few  weeks 
after  he  blew  his  brains  out.  Such  was  the  end  of  the  princi- 
pal witness  and  prime  actor  in  favor  of  Elliot  ,•  yet  Mr.  Cooper 
extols  him  without  stint,  as  the  most  reliable  witness  in  the  whole 
controversy. 

In  like  manner,  Lieutenant  Conklin,  the  only  commander  of 
the  small  vessels  from  whom  Elliot's  importunity  drew  a  certifi- 
cate in  his  favor,  expressed  regret  months  afterward  in  my  hear- 
ing, that  he  had  ever  given  it,  stating  that  it  was  obtained  under 
the  plea  that  it  was  to  be  shown  to  Mrs.  Elliot  and  other  rela- 
tives only,  who  had  heard  unfavorable  reports  of  his  conduct.— 
This  gentleman  was  afterwards  dismissed  from  the  service  on 
the  charge  of  intemperance.  The  other  Commanders  of  the 
small  vessels  expressed  opinions  against  Elliot,  most  of  them  un- 
der oath.  Thus  you  will  perceive  that  the  testimony  of  the 
Commanders  of  the  small  vessels  was  in  favor  of  Perry  ind 
against  Elliot. 

Cooper  represents  [>r.  Parsons  several  times  as  a  partisan  wit- 
ness.    "  Two  accounts  •' he  says  "of  the  loss  of  the  Niagara 


25 


had  about  this 
ad  given  him  an 
that  he  was  not 
to  his  command- 
ipology,  he   was 

vindictive  course 
ght  of  his  arrest, 
ioned,  this  file- 
g  Elliot,  to  the 

the  baltle  pub- 
!,  and  last  but  not 
;ara's  officers  to 
)n,  Mr.  Magrath 
had  been  cut  off 
ell  testifies  under 
f  first.  A  few 
Commodore  Sin- 
s  commission  as 

and  a  few  weeks 
d  of  the   princi- 

yet  Mr.  Cooper 
less  in  the  whole 

commander  of 
tty  drew  a  certifi- 
vard  in  my  hear- 
ts obtained  under 
and  other  rela- 
)f  his  conduct.— 

the  service  on 
nianders  of  the 
nost  of  them  un- 
stimony  of  the 
r  of  Perry  and 

sa  nartisan  wit- 
of  the  Niagara 


have  been  given  ;  that  of  the  official  report,  and,  that  of  her  own 
Surgeon.  The  former  was  based  on  returns  made  to  Elliot  by 
Dr.  Parsons,  and  that  he  endeavors  to  lessen  the  loss  of  this  brig, 
under  the  influence  he  so  early  manifested,"  (meaning,  in  ques- 
tioning the  wounded  as  to  the  time  they  were  struck.  )* 

Mr.  Cooper's  calumny,  of  making  out  a  fraudulent  return  of 
the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Niagara  for  the  pur- 
pose of  disparaging  Captain  Elliot  is  easily  disposed  of  by  sim- 
ply stating  the  fact  that  those  returns  were  made  out,  not  by  Dr. 
Parsons,  but  by  Purser  Magrath  of  the  Niagara,  one  of  Elliot's 
officers  and  leading  certifiers,  and  is  still  preserved  in  his  hand 
writing. 

Mr.  Cooper  is  not  satisfied  with  imputing  to  Dr.  Parsons  the 
base  design  of  trying  to  injure  Captain  Elliot,  when  he  inquired 
of  the  wounded  of  the  Niagara,  the  time  they  were  struck  in 
the  action,  (merely  for  the  purpose  of  settling  their  priority  of 
claims  for  surgical  aid)  which  he  reiterates  over  and  over  ;  nor 
with  asserting,  in  five  different  places  in  his  abusive  pamphlet, 
that  the  Doctor  was  a  native  of  Rhode-Island  and  therefore 
prejudiced  in  favor  of  Perry  and  not  reliable,  (when  he  had 
never  seen  Rhode  Island ;)  nor  with  charging  him  with  making 
out  a  false  return  of  the  number  of  wounded,  (which  Magrath 
made  out,)  but  he  moreover  adds,  "nor  is  Dr.  Parsons'  affidavit 
uncontradicted  by  even  Perry  himself.  He  says  that  the  wound- 
ed from  the  first  of  their  coming  down,  complained  that  the 
Niagara,  commanded  by  Captain  Elliot,  did  not  up  come  to  her 
station,  and  close  with  the  Charlotte  although  he  had  been  or- 
dered by  signal ;  and  this  complaint  was  frequently  repeated  by 
them  until  the  Lawrence  struck,  and  repeated  by  Lieutenants 
Brooks,  Yarnell,  and  Claxton."  Perry  in  his  official  letter  says, 
"  Lieutenant  Yarnell,  first  of  the  Lawrence,  though  several 
times  wounded,  refused  to  quit  the  deck."  Here  he  flatly  con- 
tradicts Dr.  Parson's  affidavit."  Now  the  reader  will  remember 
the  anecdote,  how  Yarnell  came  below   with  bleeding  head, 


»Dr.  P.  states  in  his  affidavit:  "  The  tocond  day  after  the  action  I  attended 
the  wounded  of  the  Niagara,  the  surgeon  of  that  vessel  being  sick  ;  and  out  of 
txycnty  cases,  not  more  than  one  or  two  snid  they  wore  wounded  while  Cnptnin 
Eiiiot  was  on  board  the  ship.  On  board  all  the  r.niall  vchsel:]  which  Captain  V\- 
liot  brought  up,  the  wounded  did  not  cicood  two  cr  tlirec." 


w 


i  i    ! 


,»i       '-1*' 


i,:;i:  f 


which,  after  returning  to  the  deck,  was  covered  with  cat-tails 
and  made  him  resemble  an  owl.  Obviously,  Captain  Perry's 
meaning  was  that  he  did  not  leave  the  deck  permanently,  al- 
though repeatedly  wounded.  Can  a  more  contemptible  quibble 
be  conceived  of  than  Cooper  has  here  resorted  to  for  the  purpose 
of  invalidating  testimony  given  under  oath  ?  Was  it  incumbent 
onpaptain  Perry  in  order  to  satisfy  Mr.  Cooper's  taste,  to  specify 
that  Yarnell  was  absent  a  few  moments,  two  or  three  times  from 
the  deck  for  surgical  aid  during  a  bloody  action  which  lasted 
nearly  three  hours  ?  Was  Dr.  Parsons  bound  to  omit  the  anec- 
dote, merely  to  please  Mr.  Cooper,  because  Captain  Perry  had 
thus  expressed  in  general  terms  the  heroic  conduct  of  Yarnell, 
whom  he  left  upon  deck  in  command  of  his  tattered  ship  when 
he  boarded  the  Niagara  ? 

Cooper  ranges  the  witnesses  of  the  Lawrence  and  Niagara  in 
two  columns,  and  exultingly  calls  the  attention  of  the  reader  to 
the  greater  length  of  the  latter  list,  although  he  knew,  and  must 
have  felt  when  he  wrote  it,  that  this  difference  in  the  length  of 
the  two  columns  was  owing  to  the  fact  that  many  officers  of  the 
Lawrence  were  killed,  and  none  in  the  Niagara ;  that  Elliot  ob- 
tained their  certificates  immediately  whilst  under  his  command 
and  influence,  and  that  Perry's  officers  were  never  applied  to  for 
years  after,  when  some  were  dead  and  others  scattered,  and  none 
of  them  under  his  command.  Was  it  honorable  and  ingenuous 
in  Cooper  to  wink  out  of  sight  these  palpable  reasons  for  the 
different  length  of  the  two  columns  of  officers,  and  exidt  over 
the  Niagara's  list  as  decisive  of  the  controversy  in  Elliot's  favor, 
when  the  disparity  in  numbers  of  survivors  resulted  from  Elliot's 
failing  to  bear  his  part  in  the  action  ? 

But  granting  for  the  sake  of  the  argument,  that  the  officers 
of  the  Lawrence  were  partisan  witnesses  ; — that  her  doctor 
went  on  board  the  Niagara  and  put  leading  questions  to  the 
wounded,  for  the  purpose  of  disparaging  Captain  Elliot ; — that 
he  was  a  native  of  Rhode-Island,  and  accompanied  Perry  to  the 
lakes ; — that  he  made  out  a  false  return  of  the  wounded, — all 
which  is  untrue, — but  granting  it,  and  that  he  is  umvorthy  of 
belief,  and  that  the  other  officers  of  the  Lawrence  aie  equally 
so,  and  admitting  on  the  other  hand  that  the  testimony  uf  the 


I 


27 


ed  with  cat-tails 

Captain   Perry's 

;  permanently,  al- 

itemptible  quibble 

to  for  the  purpose 

Was  it  incumbent 

r's  taste,  to  specify 

or  three  times  from 

ion  which  lasted 

to  omit  the  anec- 

aptain   Perry  had 

iiduct  of  Yarnell, 

Utered  ship  when 

ce  and  Niagara  in 
)n  of  the  reader  to 
tie  knew,  and  must 
e  in  the  length  of 
many  officers  of  the 
ua ;  that  Elliot  ob- 
nder  his  command 
lever  applied  to  for 

scattered,  and  none 
ible  and  ingenuous 

e  reasons   for  the 
and   exult   over 

y  in  Elliot's  favor, 

suited  from  Elliot's 

that  the    officers 

— that  her  doctor 

;   questions  to  the 

)tain   Elliot ; — that 

panicd  Perry  to  the 

the  wounded, — all 

he   is  unworthy  of 

ivrence  are  equally 

testimony  of  the 


Niagara's  officers  is  equally  unreliable  from  partisan  feeliug,  and 
thus  balancing  one  against  the  other  so  as  to  neutralize  both, 
and  how  then  stands  the  evidence  ?     The  commanders    of  the 
other  vessels  of  the  squadron  testify  that  Elliot  did  not  sustain 
his  part  in  the  action,  that  he  held  back  from  engaging  his  an- 
tagonist two  hours.     If  said  in  reply,  and  Coo]ier  has  said  it, 
that  these  officers  were  partial  to  Perry,  then  refer  the  question 
to  other  arbitrators,  who  were  entire  strangers  to  both  Perry  and 
Elliot,  who  were  eye-witnesses  of  the  battle,  and  Cooper  was 
not  one, — to  the  British  officers,  who  could  have  felt  no  interest 
on  either  side,  for  no  controversy  had  yet  commenced, — con- 
sider too  that  Barclay  had  the  strongest  possible  motives  to  des- 
cribe the  battle  accurately,  since  the  least  deviation  from  truth 
from  whatever  influence,  must  place  his   honor  and   reputation 
ever  after  at  the  mercy  of  his  officers,  and  then  ask  what   was 
their  decided  ophiion  on  this  important   subject.      Commodore 
Barclay  says  in  his  official  report, — 

"About  10  o'clock  the  enemy  had  cleared  tlie  Islands, — and  iniraediatcly  bore 
up,  under  easy  sail,  in  a  line  abreast,  each  bri^  being  idso  supported  ))y  the  small 
vessels.  At  a  quarter  before  12,  I  commenced  the  action  by  a  few  lonj;  guns ; 
about  a  quarter  past  12,  the  American  Commodore,  also  supported  by  two 
schooners,  came  close  to  action  with  the  Detroit  ;  the  other  bri;^  of  the  enemy," 
(the  Niagara,)  "apparently  destined  to  engage  the  Queen  Charlotte,  kept  so  far 
to  -windward  as  to  render  the  Queen  Charlotte's  carronades  useless,  while  rOio 
was  with  the  Lady  Prevost,  exposed  to  the  destructive  fire  of  the  Caledonia  and 
four  other  schooners  anned  with  heavy  long  guns."         *         * 

"  The  action  continued  with  great  fury  until  half  past  two,  Avhen  I  perceived 
my  opponent  drop  astern,  and  a  boat  passing  from  him  to  the  Niagara,  (which 
veii^cl  VkiVi  at  this  time  perfectly  fresh  ;)  the  American  Commodore  seeing  thai  U« 
yet  the  day  was  against  him,  (his  vessel  having  struck  soon  after  he  left  her)  ami 
also  the  very  defenceless  state  of  the  Detroit,  which  ship  was  row  a  jicrfeet 
wreck,  principally  from  the  raking  tire  of  the  guii-boats,  and  also  that  the  Queen 
Charlotte  was  in  such  a  situation,  that  I  could  receive  very  little  assistance  from 
her,  and  the  Lady  I'rovost  biung  at  this  time  too  fur  to  leeward,  from  her  rudder 
being  injured,  he"  (that  is  I'crry,)  "made  a  noble,  and  alas  !  too  successful ctt'ort 
to  regiun  the  day,  for  he  bore  up,  and  supported  by  his  small  vessels,  passed 
witliin  pistol-iihot,  and  took  a  raking  pos;ition  on  our  bow;  nor  could  I  prevent  it, 
as  the  unfortunate  situation  of  the  Queen  prevented  our  wearing ;  in  attempting 
it  wo  fcU  on  board  her.  My  gallant  first  Lieutenant,  Garland,  was  now  mortal- 
ly wounded,  and  myself  so  severely  that  I  was  obliged  to  quit  the  deck.  *  «■ 
Every  oilicer,  commanding  vessels,  and  their  seconds,  was  either  killed  or  wound- 
ed." '>■•  *  In  conclusion,  he  adds  :  "Captain  Perry  has  behaved  in  a 
hunuuie  and  most  attentive  manner,  not  only  to  myself  and  otftccrH,  but  to  all 
the  wounded." 

Barclay,  you  perceive,  tells  the  whole  story,  in  all  that  is  ma- 
terial to  the  controvorsv.  iust  as  Pftrry  told  it  in  his  official  re- 
port,  with  the  exception  of  that  part  wherein  Perry  tries  to  save 


i'lll 


28 

Elliot's  reputation ;  for  which  friendly  act  Elliot  never  forgave 
him,  and  Perry  had  reason  never  to  forgive  himself. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  the  officers  of  the  Q,neen  Charlotte  did, 
in  my  hearing,  and  as  Chaplain  Breese  testifies,  did  in  the  hear- 
of  himself  and  others,  when  they  were  asked  why  their  ship 
did  not  engage  their  antagonist  the  Niagara,  instead  of  firing  up- 
on the  Lawrence,  state  again  and  again  that  the  Niagara  kept  so 
far  astern  and  off  to  the  windward  that  their  guns  could  not 
reach  her. 

Let  us  glance  then  at  the  prominent  points  in  the  case.  1st, 
Elliot  had  his  station  and  duty  assigned  him,  to  fight  the  Q,ueer 
Charlotte.  Did  he  perform  that  duty  faithfully?  Commodore 
Perry  says  no: — Commodore  Barclay  says  no: — The  officers  of 
the  Queen  say  no : — The  commanders  of  the  small  vessels  say 
no: — The  wounded  of  the  Lawrence,  while  weltering  in  their 
blood  said  no  .-^But  J.  Fenimore  Cooper,  who  was  not  in  the 
action,  says  yes,  and  from  the  obliquity  that  marks  what  he  has 
■written  on  the  subject,  his  mistakes,  misstatements,  and  false  as- 
sumptions, such  a  decision  is  perfectly  in  keeping  with  his  char- 
acter. 2nd :  If  Elliot  was  in  his  place,  and  performed  his  duty, 
and  shared  in  the  danger,  how  are  we  to  account  for  the  fact 
that  he  had  only  three  men  killed  and  wounded,  when  the  Law- 
rence had  eighty-three,  each  ship  having  one  hundred  and  one 
men  when  the  battle  began  ?  and  how  was  it  that  the  Niagara 
was  a  perfectly  fresh  ship  (as  the  British  Commodore  states)  af- 
ter the  Lawrence  was  a  complete  wreck  ? 

Commodore  Barclay  on  his  return  to  England,  after  officially 
reporting  his  defeat  and  capture,  was  subjected  to  the  customary 
ordeal  ■of  a  Court  of  Inquiry,  and  was  honorably  acquired. — 
The  published  report  of  proceedings  stated  that  when  Perry  ap- 
proached the  Niagara  in  a  boat,  '*  she  was  making  away"  from 
the  fight,  and  this  was  copied  into  some  American  papers,  A 
Court  of  Inquiry  was  in  session  at  the  time  in  New  York,  on 
some  captains  who  had  lost  American  ships  of  war,  and  Elliot, 
unable  to  witl-.stand  this  English  version  of  the  action,  applied 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  permit  this  Court  to  examine 
the  evidence  of  his  conduct,  in  order  to  decide,  not  whether 
be  held  back  from  his  station  in  the  action^  as  several  affidavits 


29 


ot  never  forgave 
nself. 

een  Charlotte  did, 
i,  did  in  the  hear- 
d  why  their  ship 
stead  of  firing  up- 
le  Niagara  kept  so 
r  guns  could  not 

in  the  case.  1st, 
3  fight  the  Queer 
lly?  Commodore 
— The  officers  of 
small  vessels  say 
reltering  in  their 
lO  was  not  in  the 
larks  what  he  has 
ents,  and  false  as- 
ing  with  his  char- 

rformed  his  duty, 
)unt  for  the  fact 
J,  when  the  Law- 
hundred  and  one 

that  the  Niagara 
nodore  states)  af- 

id,  after  officially 

to  the  customary 
ably  acquitted. — 
it  when  Perry  ap- 
king  away"  from 
!r;can  papers.  A 
in  New  York,  on 

war,  and  Elliot, 
3  action,  applied 

ourt  to  examhie 
ide,  not  whether 

several  affidavits 


«tate,  but  whether  he  attempted  to  run  away.  Five  witnesses 
were  summoned  from  -the  Niagara,  and  two  from  the  Lawrence. 
They  all  testified  that  he  was  not  running  away.  But  the  at- 
tempt he  then  made  to  draw  proofs  from  them  that  he  did  his 
duty  in  the  action,  'was  less  successful.  The  two  from  the 
Lawrence  testified  adversely. 

In  the  finding 'of  the  Court,  it  was  regretted  that  contradicto- 
ry testimony  was  given,  but  finally  concluded  that  "  the  Niaga- 
ra was  not  running  away  from  her  antagonist  the  Q.ueen,  but 
that  she  ran  away  from  the  Niagara,"  (why  didnH  he  run  after 
kerf)  *'  and  that  Commodore  Perry's  official  report  was  correct." 
It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  none  of  the  commanders  of  the 
small  vessels,  nor  the  Commodore  were  summoned  before  the 
'Court.  The  testimony  of  the  two  officers  adverse  to  TXliot  is 
disposed  of  by  Cooper  in  a  summary- manner.  "  Mr.  Forest," 
he  says,  "  was  a  man  of  very  feeble  capacity,  as  wjis  Mr,  Yar- 
nell,  the  other  Lieutenant."  Now,  both  were  brave  and  intel- 
ligent officers,  and  had  behaved  gJillantly  in  other  actions ;  but 
being  dead  when  Cooper  wrote  his  pamphlet,  he  feit  it  safe  to 
stultify  them  in  order  to  prop  the  reputation  of  Elliot. 

There  is  a  singular  perversenoss  in  the  course  pinsued  by  Mr. 
Cooper,  in  his  assaults  upon  the  memory  and  hard  earned  fame 
of  the  lamented  Perry.  The  few  pa«es  of  his  naval  history  ap- 
propriated to  this  victory,  contain  many  palpable  errors.  They 
however  exhibit  two  promnient  traits.  1st :  the  mistakes  are 
all  made  to  tell  against  Perry  and  in  favor  of  Elliot",  secondly, 
that  their  general  aim  is  to  diminish  the  glory  reflected  by  the 
victory  on  American  valor  and  naval  f?kill,  by  making  our  fleet 
a  vastly  superior  force  to  the  enemy's.  I  have  not  time  to  ex- 
hibit the  numerous  instances  showing  this  tendency,  but  you 
will  find  some  (Bif  ithem  stated  in  McKenzie's  Life  of  Perry,  one 
of  the  best  pieces  of  biography  ever  written  in  this  country. — 
But  after  a  lapse  of  years,  when  McKenzie  had  exposed  the  un- 
fairness of  his  naval  history,  Cooper  writes  in  Graham's  Maga- 
zine what  he  calls  a  Life  of  Perry,  in  which  he  aims  his  mis- 
siles at  the  character  of  that  hero,  not  only  in  respect  to  Lake 
Erie  matters,  butto  the  subsequent  events  of  his  life,  particular- 
ly in  the  Mediterranean,  where  PeiTV  in  a  moment  of  excite- 


30 


I,  • 


\""} 


-a 


■I 

i 


(  I 

'  I 

I 


ment,  occasioned  by  what  he  deemed  an  insuft  offered  by  hfsi 
Marine  Officer,  Captain  Heath,  ga^e  him  a  blow  with  his  fist,, 
in  atonement  for  which,  and  because  he  had  viokited  the  ruiesi 
ol  the  service,  he  exposed  his  Hfe  to  a  shot  from  Heath  without 
raising  his  own  pistol  in  return.  Cooper  insinuates  that  in  this 
instance  of  giving  a  blow,  Perry  was  intoxicated.  The  insinua- 
tion is  groundless.  I  was  in  the  ship  at  the  time,  and  knew 
all  the  particulars.  The  act  proceeded  from  a  suddea  burst  of 
passion  under  what  seemed  to  him  a  great  provocation.  Perry 
although  he  habitually  strove  to  control  his  temix;r,  was  not  al- 
ways succesp^d,  and  it  was  the  only  fault  I  ever  found  in  him. 
But  what  shall  be  said  of  JMr.  Cooper,  who,  because  McKenzie- 
criticised  his  naval  history  and  exposed  its  unfairness,  sought 
revenf^e  by  aspersing  the  fame  of  a  deceased  hero,  who  had  nev- 
er injured  him,  and  whose  fame  was  among  the  precious  jew- 
els, not  only  of  Rhode  Island  but  of  the  nation,  and  to  throw 
his  barbed  arrows  into  the  hearts  of  a  bereaved  lamily. 

If  you  ask  for  further  probable  motives  that  actuated  Mr. 
Cooper  in  making  his  attack  upon  the  character  of  Perry,  a  pas- 
sage taken  from  his  strange  pamphlet,  printed  not  long  before 
his  decease,  and  distributed  by  Captain  Elliot  among  the  mem- 
bers of  Congress,  may  assist  in  the  disentanglement  of  his  mo- 
tiv  '.  "  He  has  seen  his  own  work,"  he  says,  (refering  to  his 
Naval  History)  "  condemned,  and,  so  far  as  the  public  authori- 
ties were  concerned,,  excluded  from  the  district  school  libraries, 
and  all  on  account  of  its  supposed  frauds  in  relation  to  the  bat- 
tle on  Lake  Erie  ;  while  on  the  other  hand  he  has  heard  Captain 
McKenzie's  Biography  of  Perry,  lauded  from  one  end  of  the 
Union  to  the  other,  and  preferred  to  that  place  in  the  libraries 
mentioned,  from  which  his  own  work  Iras  been  excluded.'' — 
This  fact  was  too  much  for  his  arrogant  spirit  to  bear ;  it  rankled 
in  his  bosom  until  his  spleen  found  vent  in  this  pamphlet. 

I  can  conceive  of  no  other  motive  for  his  conduct,  unless  it 
were  the   promise  of  a  silver  medal  from  Elliot,  which,  he  is- 
known  to  have  received,  and  which  bore-  on  one  side  the  liead 
of  Cooper   surrounded  by  these  words,   "  T/te  persenrijieation  of 
Honor,  Truth  and  Justice.'^ 

Elliot  had  the  iuipudeuce  to  send  one,  of  these  medal*  to  this 


31 


Ft  offered  by  hi9 
y\v  with  his  fist^ 
iokited  the  rule& 
n  Heath  without 
lates  that  in  this 
i.  The  insiniia- 
time,  and  knew 
sudden  burst  of 
ocation.  Perry 
n|ier,  was  not  al- 
er  found  in  him. 
icause  McKenzie 
ifairness,  sought 
ro,  who  had  nev- 
he  precious  jew- 
m,  and  to  throv/ 
lamily. 

jat  actuated  Mr. 
r  of  Perry,  a  pas- 
not  long  before 
among  the  mem- 
;ment  of  his  mo- 

(refering  to  his 
J  public  authori- 
t  school  libraries, 
lation  to  the  bat- 
as  heard  Captain 
I  one  end  of  the 

in  the  libraries 
en  excluded.-' — 
)  bear ;  it  rankled 
pamphlet, 
jnduct,  unless  it 
liot,  which  he  is- 
tie  side  the  head 
pcrsomjieation  of 

;e  medals'  to  this 


:1 


Historical  Society,  whkh  was  rejected,  and  returned  with  a 
preamble  and  pesolutioiis  expressed  in  the  foUowi.jg  words  : 

"  Whcrens,  Tre  honor  the  character  and  chcr  ish  the  memory  of  Commodore 
Oliver  II.  Perry,  and  hold  in  hiph  admiration,  the  professional  skill,  heroic  val- 
or and  Bobk  cofndnct,  show-n  hy  hira  in  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie,  on  the  10th  of 
September,  1813,  by  which  l*c  achieved  a  victory  glorious  to  the  American  arms, 
and  gained  a  name  which  to  uh,  as  citizens  of  his  native  State,  is  a  source  of 
honest  pride  ;  and  whereas,  in  the  published  writings  of  /,  Fenimore  Cooper, 
Esquire,  relative  to  that  evcEt,  he  has  labored  to  cfitablish  ophiions  which  wo 
■can  neither  adopt  nor  sanctiou :  and  whereaa  justice  requires  that  this  body 
shall  not  do  or  participate  in  any  act  which  may  imply  it:^  acquiescence  in  the 
efforts  which  have  been  made  ia  behalf  of  Commodore  Elliot,  to  establish  for  him 
a  reputation  derogatory  to  the  just  fame  of  liis  deceased  Commander : 

It  is  therefore  Resolved,  that  the  Society  declines  acccptinj?  the  medal  which 
has  been  presented  in  the  name  of  Commodore  Elliot ;"  and  they  ordered  it  to 
Toe  returned  through  the  channel  by  which  it  wm  received. 

Fiction  had  employed «o  much  of  Mr.  Cooper's  time  and  at- 
tention, that  he  was  unable  to  state  matters  of  fact  without  draw- 
ing on  his  imagination  in  such  a  way  as  to  distort  them  into  a 
■conformity  to  his  prejudices.  He  early  in  life  exhibited  a  dogg- 
ed obstinacy  of  opinion,  tkat  made  him  appear  absurd  and  para- 
doxical. Condradiction  of  his  opinions,  however  wild,  was  not 
to  be  endured.  Captain  McKenzie  exposed  his  errors  aud  mis- 
statements. He  was  responded  to  in  the  viturperativo  language 
contained  in  the  abusive  pamphlet  before  noticed.  The  pam- 
phlet however  fell  still-born  from  the  press.  I  never  knew  that 
such  a  piece  of  absurdity  was  in  being  until  I  commenced  this 
discourse.  In  the  first  three  pages  I  find  six  mistatements. — 
Yet  it  was  for  this  pamphlet  that  Elliot  presented  the  medal  *7o 
the  personifier  of  honor,  U'lith  and  justice,^'  and  which  this  so- 
t;iety  rejected.  In  return.  Cooper  seeks  revenge  by  a  missile 
thrown  at  this  society,  inserted  in  the  preface  to  one  of  the  early 
volumes  of  his  last  edition,  and  published  a  few  months  before 
his  death. 

It  is  a  curious  fact  that  with  all  his  assaults  upon  Perry,  not  a 
word  is  said  to  the  disadvantage  of  Elliot,  not  an  allusion  is 
made  to  his  misconduct  in  the  Mediterranean  and  elsewhere. — 
On  the  contrary  he  is  everywhere  lauded  as  a  paragon  of  noble 
qualities,  as  an  immaculate  hero,  although  at  the  very  time  Coo- 
per was  concocting  this  strange  pamphlet,  Elliot  Avas  undergo- 
ing a  punishment  of  four  years  suspension  without  pay,  under 
senteuce  of  a  Court  Martial,  on  charges  proved  against  hiui,  of 


I     Si 

> '  I 


-iJ 


T    .    Mi' 


r 


32 

D  disgraceful'  character.  Yet,  neither  these,  nor  any  other  scan- 
dalous actt  of  Elliot  are  even  hinted  at  by  "  the  personifier  of 
honor,  truth  and  justice.'^ 

Mr.  Cooper  remarks  that  a  striding  characteristic  of  the  battle 
of  the  I'ake,  is  the  bitter  controversy  that  ensued  in  respect  to 
the  condaict  of  tlie  two  senior  commanders.  And  who,  let  me 
ask,  but  himself  is  chargeable  with  blame  for  it  ?  He  was  not  a 
party  interested.  His  meddling  with  it  was  gratuitous  and'  un- 
called-for. With  Elliot  the  case  was  different.  The  public  be- 
lieved him  to  have  failed  in  his  duty,  and  to  have  tarnished  his 
character,  and  it  was  natural  for  him  to  plead  not  guilty  before- 
the  bar  of  public  opinion,  to  flounca  and  flounder,  and  strive  to 
clear  himself.  But  with  Cooper  the  case  was  different.  He 
seeuis  to  have  entered  the  controversy  purely  from  love  of  it. — 
He  strives  to  save  Elliot  by  disparaging  Perry,  and  from  his  peu 
has  flown  more  ink  and  bile  than  has  been  shed  by  all  others.. 
Much  as  Elliot's  conduct  deserves  censure,  Cooper's  is  more  rep- 
rehensible. He  enters  the  lists  unnecessarily,  and  purely  from 
love  of  paradox  and  thirst  for  notoriety,  unless  it  were  a  pros» 
pect  of  gaining  a  medal, 

I  am  well  aware  that  there  is  little  honor  gained  by  striking, 
at  a  dead  man,  and  therefore  wish  that  Mr.  Cooper  were  living 
to  hear  me.  But  if  he  while  living  labored  assiduously  tJO  cre- 
ate in  the  public  mind  false  and  .•'ijuriuus  impressions  against  the 
illustrious  dead,  who  had  never  given  him  provocation  ;  if  he 
strove  to  tarnish  the  pure  character  and  fame  of  Commodore 
Perry,  the  rich  but  only  legacy  left  to  a  bereaved  family,  and  to 
rob  this  State  aiid  the  nation  of  the  glory  gained  for  them  oid 
Lake  Erie,  then  it  is  not  only  excusable  but  the  bounden  duty 
of  one  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  doings  on  the  lake,  to 
correct  public  opinion,  by  expunging  from  their  minds  the  as- 
persions of  a  calumniator,  whether  he  be  dead  or  alive. 

Am  I  accused  of  severity  upon.  Mr.  Cooper,  hi  the  foregoing 
strictures  ?  Read  his  paniphlet, — his  abuse  of  all  who  testify 
under  oath  concerning  the  relative  conduct  of  the  two  comman- 
ders, favorably  to  Perry  ; — his  vituperative  attacks  upon  Capt. 
McKenzie  and  others  who  had  reviewed  the  evidence,  and  plac- 
ed the  whole  coiiirove.sy  in  a  fair  light,  and  his  impotent  growls 


t 


ir  any  ottier  scan- 
the  personifier  of 

istic  of  the  battle 
led  in  respect  to 
And  who,  let  me 

?  He  was  not  a 
ratnitous  and'  nn- 
The  public  be- 
lavo  tarnished  his 
not  guilty  he{ov& 
ider,  and  strive  to 
IS  ditferent.  He 
from  love  of  it. — 

and  from  his  pen 
led  by  all  others^ 
iper's  is  more  rep- 
,  and  purely  from 
s  it  were  a  pros-^ 

lined  by  striking; 
Doper  were  living 
ssiduously  to  cre- 
ssions  against  the 
ovocation  ;  if  he 
of  Commodore 
ed  family,  and  to 
[ned  for  them  oni 
le  bounden  duty 
s  on  the  lake,  tc 
ir  minds  the  as- 
or  alive. 

hi  the  foregoing^ 

all  who  testify 

he  two  comman- 

tacks  upon  Capt. 

idence,  and  plac- 

impo tent  growls 


! 


33 


at  this  society,  for  rojocting  the  profTored  medal  of  himself,  and 
you  will  decide  dilleiently  ;  for  not  a  tithe  of  his  offensive  i 
statements  and  perversions  could  receive  notice  in  the  brief  hour 
allotcd  me  on  this  occasion. 

I  know  of  nothing  thnt  sliould  incline  mc  to  favor  one  Com- 
mander more  than  the  otlicr.  Certainly  there  had  been  no  rea- 
son to  comjjlain  of  ill-tr(>atnient  from  cither,  personally.  Nor 
was  there  any  professional  jealousy  existing  among  the  medical 
officers  of  the  squadron.  The  other  two  were  ill,  and  under 
treatment,  and  I  have  never  heard  that  either  of  th^m  jirctended 
to  have  rendered  any  assistance  to  the  wounded  aft(;r  the  battle 
closed.  It  Avas  inunaterial  to  me,  therefore,  who  fought  vali- 
antly or  who  failed  in  his  duty,  as  I  was  a  non-combatant. — 
The  care  of  ninety-six  wounded  devolved  on  mc,  and  the  hon- 
or or  dishonor  of  performing  my  duty  faithfully  or  otherwise, 
was  the  same,  whether  they  were  wounded  in  the  Lawrence  or 
Niagara, — under  Perry  or  under  Elliot. 

A  few  remarks  on  the  character  of  Commodore  Perry  must 
conclude  tliis  discourse,  already  too  long.  I  have  alluded  to  his 
being  passionate  under  provocation,  aside  from  which  he  was 
the  most  exemplary  officer  I  ever  knew.  Possessed  of  high- 
toned  moral  feeling,  he  was  above  the  low  dissipation  and  sen- 
suality that  many  oflicers  of  his  day  were  prone  to  indulge  hi. 
His  conversation  was  remarkably  free  from  profanity  and  indeli- 
cacy, and  in  his  domestic  character  he  was  a  model  of  every 
domestic  virtue  and  grace.  His  acquirements  Avere  respectable. 
On  the  subjects  of  history  and  the  drama  he  was  well  read,  and 
had  formed  o])inions  that  evinced  patient  thought.  He  wrote 
Avith  rcniarlcablc  facility  and  in  good  taste.  Trained  under  the 
experienced  teachings  of  his  father  and  Commodore  Rodgcrs,  he 
could  not  fail  of  perlectiou  in  seamanship  and  naval  discipline. 
"Every  germ  of  merit  in  his  oflicers  Avas  sure  to  be  discovered 
and  encouraged  by  hira,  and  no  opportunity  Avas  ever  lost  of 
advancing  those  Avho  performed  their  duty  Avitli  cheerfulness  and 
fidelity."  He  Avas  the  most  remarkable  man  I  over  saAV  for 
success  in  inspiring  his  oliicers  Avith  a  reverential  aAve  in  his 
presence,  and  Avith  a  dread  of  giving  him  oiicnce.  Generous  to 
the  full  extent  of  his  means,  his  elegant  hospitality  especially  on 


i  i:i  111 


I.   ! 


'lf 


l'':i 


Hi 
M     ! 


34 

ship-board  in  foreign  ports,  reflected  great  honor  on  our  navy. 
Distinguished  visitors  ever  found  his  sliip  in  most  perfect  order, 
and  left  her  with  exalted  opinions  of  his  gracefid  and  dignified 
manners,  and  of  the  strict  disciplhio  prevaihng  among  his  olfi- 
cers  and  men. 

I  feel  grateful  to  my  audience  for  their  patient  attention. — 
Nearly  forty  years  have  rolled  away,  since  Perry  gained  the  me- 
morable victory, — the  first  one  ever  gained  over  a  stpiadron  by 
this  country,  and,  with  the  lapse  of  time,  have  passed  away  most 
of  those  who  were  with  him.  Of  the  nine  commanders  of  ves- 
sels, only  one  survives  ;  and  of  the  fifteen  officers  of  the  Law- 
rence, only  Capt.  Taylor  and  myself  remain.  The  thought  re- 
minds me,  as  it  should  do,  that  my  own  summons  cannot  be  far 
distant.  Entertaining  tlie  opinions  I  honestly  do  of  the  inci- 
dents and  events  of  the  battle,  and  of  the  chief  actors  in  it, — 
opinions  which  were  formed  on  the  spot  at  die  time ;  and  also 
of  the  controversy  that  long  after  ensued,  I  have  for  years  felt 
it  an  imperative  duty  to  present  those  opinions  to  the  citizens  of 
this  State  on  some  appropriate  occasion.  That  duty,  by  your 
appointment  is  now  performed,  so  far  as  the  brief  time  allotted 
would  permit,  and  with  it  has  been  offered  a  tribute  of  respect 
due  to  the  character  of  the  illust.  i-  us  son  of  Rhode  Island. — 
Ever  may  his  memory  remain  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  the 
jxioplc  of  his  native  State,  and  of  a  grateful  nation  ! 


mor  on  our  nnvy. 
nost  perfect  order, 
(ii'vl  and  dignified 
g  among  his  olfi- 

iticnt  attention. — 
iry  gained  the  me- 
ver  a  stjnadron  by 
I  passed  away  most 
aramanders  of  ves- 
Recrs  of  the  Law- 

The  thought  re- 
lons  cannot  be  far 
ly  do  of  the  inci- 
ei  actors  in  it, — 
lie  time ;  and  also 
lave  for  years  felt 
s  to  the  citizens  of 
lat  duty,  by  your 

brief  time  allotted 
tribute  of  respect 

Rhode  Island. — 

the  hearts  of  the 
ition ! 


ArrENDix. 


AMEIIICAN  OFFICIAL  ACCOUNT. 


Copy  of  a  letter  from   Commothro  Pemj  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 

V,  S.  SciiooNEii  AiiiKt,  1'ut-in-Bay, 
i;ith  8ci)tcinber,  1813. 

Sin — In  my  Inst  I  informed  you  that  we  had  captured  the  cnomy'H  fleet  on 
tluH  hike.  I  have  now  the  honor  to  give  you  the  moHt  important  particulars  of 
the  action.  On  tlio  morning  of  the  10th  inst.,  at  sun  rise,  they  were  discovered 
from  I'ut-in-lJay,  wliere  I  lay  at  anchor  with  the  scjuadron  under  my  command. 
Wo  got  under  way,  the  wind  Ught  at  S.  W.  and  stood  for  them.  At  10  A.  M. 
the  wind  hauled  to  S.  E.  and  brought  us  to  windward  ;  fonned  the  lino  and 
brought  up.  At  15  minutes  before  12  the  enemy  commenced  firing  ;  at  5  min- 
utes before  12,  tlio  action  commenced  on  our  part.  Finding  theu"  fire  very  de- 
structive, owing  to  their  long  guns,  and  its  beuig  mostly  du'cctod  to  the  Law- 
rence, I  made  sail,  and  directed  the  other  vessels  to  follow,  for  the  purpose  of 
closing  with  the  enemy.  Every  brace  and  bow  lino  being  shot  away,  she  become 
unmanageable,  notwithstanding  the  great  exertions  of  the  Sailing  Master.  In 
tlxis  situation  she  sustained  the  action  upwards  of  two  hours,  witliin  canister 
shot  tlistance,  until  every  gun  was  rendered  useless,  and  a  greater  part  of  the 
crew  either  killed  or  wounded.  Finduig  she  could  no  longer  annoy  the  enemy, 
I  left  her  in  charge  of  Lt.  Yomcll,  who,  I  was  convinced,  from  the  bravery  al- 
ready displayed  by  hun,  woidd  do  what  would  comport  with  the  honor  of  the 
flag.  At  half  past  2,  the  wind  sprhiging  up  Cajjtain  Elliot  was  enabled  to  bring 
his  vessel,  the  Niagara,  gallantly  into  close  action  ;  I  immediately  went  on  board 
of  her,  when  he  anticipated  my  wish  by  volunteering  to  bring  the  schooners, 
which  had  been  kepf  astern  by  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  into  close  action.  It 
was  with  unspeakable  pain  that  I  saw,  soon  after  I  got  on  board  the  Niagara, 
the  flag  of  the  Lawrence  come  down,  although  I  was  perfectly  sensible  that  she 
had  been  defended  to  the  last,  and  that  to  have  continued  to  make  a  show  of 
resistance  would  have  been  a  Avanton  sacrifice  to  the  remains  of  her  brave  crew. 
But  the  enemy  was  not  able  to  take  possession  of  her,  and  cuxumstances  soon 
permitted  her  flag  again  to  be  hoisted.  At  45  minutes  past  two,  the  signal  was 
made  for  "  close  action."  The  Niagara  being  very  little  injured,  I  determined  to 
pass  through  the  enemy's  hnc,  bear  up  and  pass  ahead  of  thek  two  ships  and  a 
brig,  giving  a  raking  fire  to  them  from  the  starboard  guns,  and  to  a  large  schoon- 
er and  sloop,  from  the  larboard  side,  at  haU'  pistol  shot  distance.  The  smaller 
vessels  at  this  time  having  got  Avithiu  grape  and  canister  distance,  under  the  di- 
rection of  Capt.  Elliot,  and  keeping  up  a  well  directed  fire,  the  two  ships,  a  brig, 
and  a  schooner  s\\rrendercd,  a  schooner  and  sloop  making  a  vain  attempt  to 
escape. 

Those  officers  and  men  who  were  immediately  under  my  observation,  evinced 
the  greatest  gallantry,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  all  others  conducted  themselves 
as  became  American  otliccra  and  seamen.    Lieutenant  Yai'uel,  first  of  the  Law- 


^ 


I 


30 


icnco  nlthougli  Hovornl  times  wotindoil,  refused  to  quit  tho  <lc?k.  MiiliHliipmau 
Forest,  (doinn  duty  uh  Lieutenant)  luul  .Sailing  mnntor  Tiij  lor,  were  of  ^reut  um- 
BiMtanre  to  nie.  I  Imvo  ^reiit  iniiii  in  ntiidnn  to  you  the  dtntli  of  Lieutenant 
Brook:<,  of  the  Miiriiu's,  and  .MidMliipnimi  l.iuit),  Imth  of  llic  Lawn'tui-,  mid  Mid- 
Bhipmau  John  Chuk,  of  tho  8eor|)iou  ;  thoy  were  vnlucdilo  olHeerH.  Mr.  Hani- 
bleton,  I'luver,  who  volunteered  his  nervicoH  on  derk,  wim  ;  ov<'rely  wounded  late 
in  tho  action.  Middiiimieii  Claxton  and  Swartwout,  of  tiie  Lawrence,  wereHO- 
vorely  wounded.  On  board  tho  Niasarn,  I,ieutcnnntf4  Smith  and  Kdwardu,  and 
Midnhioinan  Webnter,  (doinij  duty  an  Sailiiij,'  Muster)  behaved  in  a  very  hand- 
Home  manner.  C'aiitain  llrevoort,  of  tlio  anny,  who  aeted  aH  a  volunteer  in  tho 
capneity  of  o  marine  oflieer  on  board  that  ve«ael,  is  an  c\eeUent  nnd  brnvc  oiHecr, 
and  with  h'n  mu!4(|u('try,  did  pveat  eseciitinn.  I. lent,  'J'uv.u'r,  eommnndiuf;  tho 
Caledonia,  l)roun;lit  tliat  vesHel  into  action  in  the  most  abk-  Tuannor,  niuliHan  olK- 
cor,  that  in  all  wituations  may  be  relied  upon.  T)ui  Ariel,  Lieut.  I'acket,  nnd 
Scorjiiou,  Sailiiif^-MaMter  Chamiiliu,  wcro  enabled  to  jtet  early  into  the  action, 
nnd  wcro  of  ^reat  Hcrvice.  C'lipt.  Elliot  Bpcnks  in  tho  hi^,'llest  tcrmH  of  Mr.  Ma- 
Rrntli,  Purser,  who  had  been  despatched  in  n  boat  on  bovvice,  proviouH  to  my  i^ot- 
tin<^  on  board  the  Niaj^ara  ;  nwl  l)cin'^  a  seiiman,  since  the  action  has  rendered 
csHcntial  service  in  takin;»  eharj^o  of  one  of  tlie  pri/ei.  Of  C'apt.  Elliot,  already 
go  well  known  to  tho  (government,  it  woidd  bo  almost  superfluous  to  upcak.  In 
thiw  action  he  evinced  his  cluiracteri-tic  bravery  nnd  judi;cnieiit,  nnd  v.iuco  the 
close  of  tho  action,  has  j^iven  me  the  most  able  and  essentia!  assistance. 

I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  you  a  return  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  together 
with  ft  statement  of  the  relative  foH'o  of  tlic  H(iuadrons.  The  Captain  and  first 
Lieut,  of  the  (Jueen  Charlotte,  and  First  I,ieut.  of  the  Detroit,  were  killed.  Cupt. 
Burelay,  senior  ofKcor,  nnd  the  conunander  of  the  Lady  Prevost,  severely  wound- 
ed. Their  loss  in  killed  and  Avounded,  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  ascertain  ;  it 
luust,  however,  have  been  very  fi;rcat. 

Very  respectfully,  I  have  tho  honor  to  be, 

Sir,  your  obedient  sen'ant, 

0.  IL  PERRY. 
Tho  Hon.  Wm.  Jones, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Addidnna  math  by  the  pubHn/ui's, 
In  ft  subsequent,  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in  Jimunry  foIlowiu.q,  the 
Commodore  speaks  of  otlicr  otiicws : — of  tho  j^alhmtrv  of  ],hnt.  Holdup  of  the 
Tripp,  who,  with  ^Mr.  Champlin,  in  tho  Scorpion,  captured  tl'.e  two  vessolp  llutt 
attempted  lo  escaiH': — of  the  jutiii';  Sur'j;con  of  the  La'.vrcn'e  lie  writes  as  LA- 
lowrf — "  Of  Dr.  Usher  Parsons,  Surgeon's  mute,  1  cannot  say  too  mu'li.  In  con- 
sequence of  the  disability  of  both  the  other  .Sur",cniis,  Drs.  Ibuton  and  Ilorsely, 
the  whole  duty  of  0)icrnlin;;-,  (be  .;iii;j,  and  at'eiuliu;;  nearly  one  hundre  I  Mound- 
ed, and  as  many  i.ick  devolved  entirely  on  lam,  and  it  must  bo  pleasiu'j;  to  you, 
sir,  to  reflect  that  of  the  Avholo  number  wounded,  only  three  )) a vo  died." — [.Se 
American.  AniKih.]  Of  Cluipluin  Thomtu  lirce  c,  who  acted  as  aid,  he  also 
mokes  honorablo  mention. 


I'l 


MiilHhipnuin 
3  of  Kri'ut  UM- 
>f  I.ii'iitcnaiit 
ici',  iiiul  Mid- 
,  Mr.  llmu- 
wouikIchI  liitc 
l'iiii",  wcrcHC- 
Hthvurda,  ond 

II  vi'iy  hnml- 
lunti'cr  in  the 

brnvo  olHcor, 
niandiiif;  tlio 
niuliHnii  nlK- 

I'nckot,  and 

0  tlio  uution, 

1  of  Sir.  Mu- 
ms to  my  get- 
lins  it'iuk'red 
lliot,  already 
o  Hpcnk.  In 
lid  tiiuco  the 
arc. 

dod,  together 
iiiii  and  first 
killed.  Cupt. 
■erely  wound- 
osccrtoin  ;  it 


PERRY. 


'ollo\viiif»,  the 
Idldup  of  tlie 
o  vc:HHelp  llutt 

writen  as  f>;l- 
ii'h.     Incon- 

iind  Ilorsely, 
idi','  I  wmmd- 
iisiu;^  to  yoxi, 
)  died." — [See 

aid,  ho   also 


